Sept. 17, 2016
MADISON, Wis. – The No. 7 Ohio State women’s soccer team played to a 2-2 double-overtime draw against Wisconsin in its Big Ten opener Friday night at McClimon Soccer Complex. After the draw, the Buckeyes sit at 6-2-1, 0-0-1 in Big Ten play, while the Badgers are 3-2-4, also 0-0-1 in conference play.
“We’re happy to collect a point on the road to open conference play,” Lori Walker, Ohio State head coach, said. “We showed a lot of fight to come back from a 2-1 deficit but we created some opportunities in the first half and we need to find a way to finish the game. Our styles didn’t match up particularly well. Wisconsin consistently plays direct and when we finally settled in and moved the ball with possession, I felt we took control. Once the game was tied, it just became a track meet.”
EARLY CHANCE FOR WISCONSIN
Less than five minutes in, the Badgers had an opportunity off a throw-in when Sydney McGinnis possessed inside the box and fired a shot from 12 yards but Ohio State goalkeeper Jillian McVicker was there to deflect the chance just over the crossbar.
AGNEW WITH THE BREAKTHROUGH
Lindsay Agnew almost single-handedly but the Buckeyes ahead in the 20th minute. The senior forward possessed 30 yards out on the left wing and was able to beat a Wisconsin defender inside the box before finishing with her left foot from 12 yards inside the far post.
LATE-HALF ONSLAUGHT BY THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State continued to gain confidence in possession as the half moved on before creating multiple opportunities in the final five minutes before the break. In the 40th minute, Morgan Wolcott possessed just inside the box on the right wing after a feed from Nikki Walts before firing a shot from 10 yards that caromed off a Wisconsin defender just over the crossbar.
Less than a minute later, it was Walts with a chance, firing a shot from eight yards on the right wing but Clem was able to leap to deflect it off the crossbar before it was cleared away.
The ensuing Walts corner was kicked out to Sarah Roberts, who laced a shot that seemed destined for the top-left corner but, again, the shot deflected off the crossbar and out of play as the match remained 2-1 heading into the half.
BADGERS ANSWER WITH TWO EARLY IN THE SECOND
Wisconsin took the lead in the 50th minute when Micaela Powers played a cross from the right wing that deflected off a Buckeye defender and inside the far post to knot the score. Less than three minutes later, Powers played a corner from the right side toward the far post, where Rose Lavelle was there to head in the go-ahead goal to make it a 2-1 contest.
CLEM THWARTS WOLCOTT CHANCE
In the 82nd minute, Walts played a corner from the right wing that found Wolcott at the center of the box but Clem dove to her right to come up with the huge save on the Wolcott volley to keep the Badgers ahead.
WALTS FINDS THE EQUALIZER
With just over five minutes remaining in regulation, Nichelle Prince played a cross into the center of the box that took one skip before finding Walts, who finished inside the left post past Clem to tie the match at 2-2 and send it into overtime. Ohio State tallied a pair of corners late in the second overtime but the Badgers were able to clear both as the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Shots: Wisconsin 14, Ohio State 7
Saves: Ohio State 4, Wisconsin 2
Shots on Goal: Wisconsin 6, Ohio State 4
Corner Kicks: Ohio State 9, Minnesota 6
BUCKEYE BITS
– Ohio State is 21-0-2 when scoring at least two goals dating back to the start of 2014 and is 5-0-1 when scoring at least twice this season.
– With the draw, Ohio State now is undefeated in its last 12 overtime matches. The Buckeyes are 2-0-1 this season in extra time and 5-0-4 over the last two seasons.
UP NEXT
No. 7 Ohio State travels to take on No. 13 Minnesota at 2 p.m. ET Sunday.
