No. 9 Ohio State Drops 1-0 2OT Contest to No. 15 Penn State in Big Ten Semifinals

Nov. 3, 2017

WESTFIELD, Ind. – The top-seeded and ninth-ranked Ohio State women’s soccer team fell to fifth-seeded and 15th-ranked Penn State, 1-0, on a goal with 42 seconds remaining in the second overtime in a Big Ten Tournament semifinal Friday afternoon at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. With the loss, the Buckeyes fall to 15-4-1 on the year while the Nittany Lions improve to 11-4-4.

The Buckeyes await their NCAA Tournament selection during a selection show at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

“I think we need to take responsibility for our slow start,’ Lori Walker-Hock, Ohio State head coach, said. “That’s what we have control over. Penn State was playing for something a little different than we were. They pressed and were a little stronger on the day. It was not our best game but it was positive for our defense to get that experience and our players had to work really hard. The rest is going to be big for us so we’ll regroup and see where we land on Monday.”

WILLIFORD WITH BEST CHANCE OF FIRST HALF
In a first half with very few chances on a windy afternoon in Westfield, Penn State had the best chance in the 20th minute. The Nittany Lions’ Salina Williford possessed on the top-left side of the box off a corner and hit a shot toward the near post but it caromed off the left post and out of bounds and neither team found the back of the net in the first 45 minutes.

KERR KEEPS IT SCORELESS EARLY IN 2ND
In the 51st minute, Ohio State goalkeeper Devon Kerr made a pair of brilliant saves to keep the match scoreless. First, the junior stopped a shot by Maddie Elliston before Williford hit a volley from the top of the box toward the left post but Kerr ranged to her left to make the stop.

In the 67th minute, Charlotte Williams tried to go near post from the top-left corner of the box but Kerr dove to her right for the save.

HOLDEN’S SHOT FLIES JUST HIGH IN THE 88TH
With less than three minutes remaining in regulation, Ohio State’s Arden Holden possessed outside the top of the box and ripped a shot that narrowly sailed over the crossbar.

AND ROBERTS’ CHANCE SAILS HIGH IN FIRST OT
After Kerr made another diving stop on a shot by Laura Freigang in the 95th minute, Holden laid a pass off to Sarah Roberts, who hit a right-footed strike from 20 yards that flew high.

EDWARDS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY IN SECOND OT
Less than three minutes into the second overtime, Sammy Edwards possessed on the top-left corner of the box and tried to go near post but narrowly missed wide left.

FREIGANG WINS IT IN 110TH
With 42 seconds remaining in the second overtime, Williford found Freigang at the top of the box, where she finished inside the left post for the 1-0 win.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Shots: Penn State 24, Ohio State 4
Saves: Ohio State 8, Penn State 0
Shots on Goal: Penn State 9, Ohio State 0
Corner Kicks: Penn State 7, Ohio State 0

BUCKEYE BITS
– Ohio State dropped to 13-13-4 all-time in Big Ten Tournament contests, including 13-10-4 under the direction of head coach Lori Walker-Hock.
– Kerr made a season-high eight saves.
– Ohio State suffered just its second loss in the last 18 overtime matches. The Buckeyes are 9-2-7 in overtime matches over the last three seasons.

UP NEXT
The Buckeyes await their NCAA Tournament selection during a selection show at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Match: No. 15 Penn State vs. No. 9 Ohio State
Date: Nov. 3, 2017
Venue: Grand Park – Westfield, Ind.
Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
Attendance: 1,327
Weather: Partly cloudy, windy and 50 degrees