Oct. 31, 2012
Follow the Buckeyes on Twitter
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The No. 2 seed Ohio State women’s soccer team topped No. 7 seed Nebraska, 1-0, Wednesday afternoon at Armstrong Stadium. With the win, the Buckeyes move on to face either No. 3 seed Michigan or No. 6 seed Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals at 12:30 p.m. Friday.
Ohio State improves to 14-4-1 on the season with its seventh-consecutive win while the Huskers fall to 7-12-1.
“The postseason is all about the ability to survive and advance and, despite not playing our best soccer, we were able to move on,” head coach Lori Walker said. “Nebraska presented us with multiple challenges and really fought, playing multiple long balls into the box that were difficult to handle. I’m happy with Ellyn Gruber scoring her first career goal in two years. It came at a great time for us but we need to continue to improve.”
Gruber almost gave the Buckeyes the early lead in the 12th minute but her shot from 10 yards off a through ball from Kristen Niederhaus sailed just over the crossbar. Less than 10 minutes later, the Huskers had their best opportunity of the first 45 minutes but her strike from the top of the box narrowly missed wide left.
Things stayed quiet until 45 seconds remaining in the first half when Gruber headed home a corner from Megan Fuller, giving the Buckeyes the 1-0 lead heading into the break.
Ohio State held a 3-2 advantage in shots over the first 45 minutes, with Gruber’s goal marking the only shot on frame.
Tiffany Cameron tallied consecutive chances for the Buckeyes in the 60th minute, one on a shot from 10 yards from a difficult angle on the left wing and another off a volley from 15 yards, but Nebraska goalkeeper Emma Stevens made a pair of saves to keep it a 1-0 Ohio State advantage.
Cameron had another opportunity at an insurance tally in the 79th minute but Stevens came up big against, making a diving stop on Cameron’s shot from 10 yards.
Nebraska’s best chance to knot the score came in the 85th minute when Caroline Gray controlled a free kick in the box but Ohio State goalkeeper Jillian McVicker was able to make the save and preserve the 1-0 advantage as the Buckeyes opened the tournament with the victory.
For the game, Ohio State held an 8-5 advantage in shots, including 4-1 on goal. The Buckeyes also tallied six corner kicks to one for the Huskers.
