Ohio State Remains Unbeaten with 2-1 Double-Overtime Win over No. 20 Notre Dame

Sept. 8, 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s soccer team stayed unbeaten with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over No. 20 Notre Dame Friday night at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 5-0-1 on the year while the Irish fall to 3-2-2.

A failed clearance of a Sammy Edwards shot in the 105th minute sailed over the head of Notre Dame goalkeeper Brooke Littman for the double-overtime win.

“It was a huge team effort tonight,” Lori Walker-Hock, Ohio State head coach, said. “We knew we were going to need everybody’s energy and effort. Notre Dame has an excellent side and I felt like we put them under a lot of pressure early. Our team showed a high level of fitness tonight, particularly in overtime, and I’m really proud of them.”

WOLCOTT HEADS BUCKEYES ON TOP
After a couple early half-chances from Notre Dame in the first five minutes, the Buckeyes found their footing before a corner led to the Buckeyes taking the lead in the 15th minute. Nikki Walts played the corner from the right side and Morgan Wolcott got her head on it at the six-yard box, slipping it past Littman and inside the left post for the 1-0 advantage.

JACOBS PUTS HOME THE REBOUND EQUALIZER
Neither team was able to find much in the way of quality chances until the Irish knotted the score in the 40th minute on a goal by Natalie Jacobs. Jennifer Westendorf hit a left-footed strike from 20 yards that Devon Kerr was able to slide to her left to deflect the shot wide but it fell right to the foot of Jacobs, who finished from eight yards on the right wing to make it a 1-1 game heading to the break.

EDWARDS FORCES A DIVING SAVE
In the 64th minute, Walts played a long ball into the center of the box from just inside midfield and Edwards was able to head it toward goal but Littman ranged to her left to make the lunging save.

WOLCOTT ALMOST ENDS IT
After the match went to overtime, in the 95th minute, Walts played a free kick from 40 yards to the head of Wolcott at the center of the box but her header sailed right into the arms of Littman.

With less than a minute remaining in the first overtime, Jacobs rifled a shot from 20 yards off the crossbar and out of play as the match headed to a second overtime, where the Buckeyes ended it with the 2-1 victory.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Shots: Notre Dame 16, Ohio State 13
Saves: Ohio State 5, Notre Dame 4
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 6, Notre Dame 6
Corner Kicks: Notre Dame 5, Ohio State 4

BUCKEYE BITS
– Wolcott’s goal was her first of the season and seventh of her career.
– Ohio State is 31-1-2 when scoring at least two goals in a game since the start of 2014, including a perfect 5-0-0 mark in 2017.
– The Buckeyes are 5-0-0 when scoring first after going 10-0-1 a year ago.
– Ohio State is 7-1-7 in overtime matches over the last three seasons.

UP NEXT
The Buckeyes host Saint Joseph’s for their senior recognition at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Match: No. 20 Notre Dame at Ohio State
Date: Sept. 8, 2017
Venue: Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium – Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Attendance: 1,224
Weather: Sunny and 63 degrees