Aug. 26, 2012
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s soccer team upset No. 17 Maryland, 1-0, Sunday evening at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. With the win, Ohio State evens its record at 2-2-0 while Maryland falls to 1-1-1.
“Getting a little better each day and each game is our priority,” Ohio State head coach Lori Walker said. “We have made a lot of changes to the way we play and it has taken some time to get everybody on the same page. I like how our team responded, fought and battled today. Our soccer needs to have a little more flow but we played a solid 90 minutes against a very technical, methodical team.”
The Buckeyes first good opportunity came in the 17th minute when Tiffany Cameron played a beautiful cross to a wide open Lauren Granberg in the middle of the box but Granberg’s volley from six yards out sailed high.
However, less than a minute later, Cameron slipped in behind the Maryland defense, received a through ball from Michela Paradiso and beat goalkeeper Rachelle Beanlands far post for the 1-0 Ohio State lead.
The Buckeyes almost tacked on another in the 24th minute but Samantha Lewis’ shot from 20 yards out on the right wing caromed off the crossbar and out of play.
Maryland tallied a couple of chances late in the first half, including a shot by Hayley Brock that was cleared off the line by Ohio State’s Marisa Wolf, but the Buckeyes took the 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Terrapins held a 9-5 advantage in shots over the first 45 minutes, including 2-1 on goal. Maryland also held a narrow 4-3 lead in corner kicks.
Maryland came out strong in a physical second half but the Buckeyes were up to the task. After Jillian McVicker came on in goal for the Buckeyes to start the half, Olivia Wagner was able to challenge her early. Wagner drilled a shot from 30 yards out but the Ohio State freshman goalkeeper ranged far to her right to make a diving save in the 63rd minute.
Less than two minute later, Danielle Hubka launched a shot from just outside the box that narrowly missed wide left.
The Buckeyes then began to gain momentum late, as Granberg sailed a shot just high from 18 yards out in the 77th minute. A minute later, Cameron had a shot from inside the six-yard box that beat Beanlands but was saved off the line by a Maryland defender.
Maryland’s last good opportunity came with just over three minutes remaining but Becky Kaplan’s volley from eight yards out off a cross sailed over the crossbar.
For the game, the Terrapins held a 19-10 advantage in shots, including 4-2 on goal. Cameron and Granberg each tallied three shots while Wagner recorded seven for Maryland. Paradiso added her third assist in two games as the Buckeyes came away with the victory.
The Buckeyes host Syracuse at 6 p.m. next Sunday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
