Roberts’ Double-Overtime Game-Winner Sends Buckeyes to Big Ten Semifinals

Oct. 29, 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The top-seeded and 13th-ranked Ohio State women’s soccer team edged eighth-seeded Iowa, 2-1, on Sarah Roberts’ 103rd-minute game-winner in a Big Ten quarterfinal Sunday afternoon at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 15-3-1 and advance to take on fifth-seeded Penn State in the Big Ten semifinals at 1 p.m. Friday at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind.

Less than three minutes into the second overtime, an Alyssa Baumbick corner was cleared out to Roberts, who ripped a volley from 30 yards into the upper-right corner to send the Buckeyes to the semifinals.

“We talked at halftime and I didn’t think we were playing poorly but there were some things we needed to clean up,’ Lori Walker-Hock, Ohio State head coach, said. “When you’re playing against a team that’s fighting for its life, it’s hard. Iowa came out and scored a great goal and made it interesting. I’m happy with where we are so we’ll continue to advance and fight another day. That was an unbelievable goal from Sarah Roberts to end it.”

BUCKEYES EARN A FLURRY OF EARLY CHANCES
In the 14th minute, Nikki Walts hit a low free kick from 20 yards past the wall but Iowa goalkeeper Claire Graves ranged to her right to make the diving save to keep the match scoreless.

Two minutes later, Eleanor Gabriel broke free down the right wing and played a cross from near the end line toward Maddy Lowe at the center of the box but Graves again slid to her left to block the shot from 10 yards.

A minute after that, Sammy Edwards found space at the top of the box and ripped a left-footed strike that narrowly flew over the crossbar.

KERR THWARTS IOWA OPPORTUNITY
Iowa’s best chance came in the 28th minute when Devin Burns tracked down a through ball down the middle of the field but Ohio State goalkeeper Devon Kerr came out of goal to pick the ball off her foot in the 1v1 chance.

CHANCES CONTINUE FOR EDWARDS
Less than 10 minutes into the second half, Gabriel slotted a through ball to Edwards on the right side of the box but Graves dove to her right to keep the match scoreless.

In the 58th minute, Izzy Rodriguez found Edwards at the top of the box, but Graves once again ranged to her right to make the stop on the shot from 18 yards.

BUCKEYES BREAK THROUGH IN 60TH
Two minutes later, Walts tracked down a corner and passed back to Rodriguez, who played a long ball from the left wing to the head of Gabriel at the far post and the senior looped a header over Graves for the 1-0 advantage.

HAWKEYES KNOT SCORE IN 73RD
Iowa then knotted the score at 1-1 in the 73rd minute. Walts was there to block Diane Senkowski’s shot off a long free kick but the rebound fell to Morgan Kemerling, who volleyed home the equalizer from six yards.

GRAVES DENIES GABRIEL LATE
With less than four minutes remaining in regulation, Gabriel possessed on the right side of the box after a feed from Edwards but her shot from eight yards headed toward the far post was kicked wide by Graves as the match headed to overtime.

QUOTABLE
“Our big concern was how we could improve and get better coming off a huge high of winning the Big Ten,” Roberts said. “We just need to continue to get one percent better each day. Iowa played well but we stuck together as a team and that’s what helped us win.”

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Shots: Ohio State 18, Iowa 8
Saves: Iowa 8, Ohio State 6
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 10, Iowa 7
Corner Kicks: Ohio State 18, Iowa 8

BUCKEYE BITS
– Ohio State improved to 13-12-4 all-time in Big Ten Tournament contests, including 13-9-4 under the direction of head coach Lori Walker-Hock.
– Nikki Walts tallied her 22nd career assist, and sits fourth on the Ohio State career list. The assist was her ninth of the season, which also ties for fourth on the Buckeyes’ single-season list.
– Ohio State improved to 37-1-2 when scoring at least two goals in a game since the start of 2014.
– The Buckeyes improved to 15-0-0 when scoring first in 2017 after going 10-0-1 a year ago.
– Ohio State improved to 9-1-7 in overtime matches over the last three seasons.

UP NEXT
Top-seeded Ohio State advances to the Big Ten semifinals to take on fifth-seeded Penn State at 1 p.m. Friday at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. The Nittany Lions advanced on penalty kicks against fourth-seeded Rutgers Sunday afternoon.

Match: Iowa vs. No. 13 Ohio State
Date: Oct. 29, 2017
Venue: Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium – Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
Attendance: 448
Weather: Cloudy and 43 degrees