Aug. 23, 2015
Columbus, Ohio
Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium
OT: Ohio State 1 (2-0-0), Florida 0 (1-1-0)
Attendance: 762
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s soccer team knocked off No. 8 Florida 1-0 on Nichelle Prince’s overtime game-winner Sunday afternoon at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 2-0-0 on the year while Florida drops to 1-1-0.
After the game went into overtime scoreless, Lindsay Agnew slotted a through ball to Prince who finished far post from 12 yards for the game-winner in the 95th minute.
“We knew we had to be strong on the ball to get inside their defense and it was that way all day,” Prince said. “All we needed was one chance to go our way and luckily I was able to find the back of the net.”
Ohio State had its first quality chance in the 11th minute when Sammy Edwards tracked down a long ball from Agnew behind the Florida defense but goalkeeper Valerie Tysinger was able to come out to the top of the 18-yard box to pick the ball off the foot of the Buckeye sophomore.
Florida then had its best opportunity of the half in the 42nd minute when a clearance off a Florida free kick fell to the feet of Briana Solis but her strike from 25 yards drifted wide right as the match remained scoreless at the half.
Ohio State held a 3-2 advantage in shots over the first 45 minutes with Florida tallying the lone shot on goal.
Neither team was able to muster many chances early in the second half until Florida almost took the lead in the 83rd minute. Christen Westphal took a free kick from the left that connected with Melanie Monteagudo but her header from six yards caromed off the crossbar and was cleared away.
The Buckeyes had a chance in the final 10 seconds of regulation when Prince broke free in the box but Tysinger again was able to come out to make the save to force overtime.
For the game, Ohio State held a 9-6 advantage in shots with each team putting three on goal. Goalkeeper Jillian McVicker made three saves to tally her fourth-career shutout.
“We were focused in on the strength of our defending all preseason and it showed today,” Lori Walker, Ohio State head coach, said. “Our team was making sure we were playing for one another and that’s what we did today.”
Ohio State travels to Dayton for a 7:30 p.m. match Thursday.
