Oct. 1, 2016
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 21 Ohio State women’s soccer team played to a scoreless draw against Northwestern Saturday night at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Despite dominating the match to the tune of a 28-9 advantage in shots, including 9-2 on frame, and holding a 17-3 lead in corner kicks, the Buckeyes were unable to find the back of the net and now sit at 7-4-2 overall, 1-2-2 in Big Ten play, while the Wildcats are 10-1-1, 3-1-1 in conference play.
“We felt that we played well and dominated all night but just were unable to find a goal so that’s a bit frustrating,” Lori Walker, Ohio State head coach said. “To have 28 shots and 17 corners in the game shows absolute domination on our part. We have players capable of finishing at any time and for some reason it just didn’t happen tonight. We created in wide areas, in central channels and off corner kicks but we hit posts and had close misses all game.”
BUCKEYES FIND THE END LINE EARLY
Ohio State applied tons of pressure from the start of the match, controlling possession throughout the first half, earning four corners through the first 10 minutes and eight during the first half.
OHIO STATE CREATES CHANCES THROUGHOUT FIRST HALF
The Buckeyes earned multiple quality chances through the first 45 minutes. In the 13th minute, a Buckeye cross from the left wing kicked out to Emma Firenze at the top of the box but her blast narrowly missed wide left.
In the 32nd minute Lindsay Agnew possessed just inside the box on the right wing and curled a left-footed strike destined for the far post but Northwestern goalkeeper Lauren Clem was there to make a leaping save.
Three minutes later, Agnew crossed from the right wing to Nichelle Prince at the center of the box but Clem again came up with a diving save on the strike headed inside the right post.
Then again, in the 38th minute, another Agnew cross toward the center of the box found Sarah Roberts but her volley with the outside of her left foot just missed wide right as the match headed into the half scoreless.
Through the first 45 minutes, Ohio State held an 11-3 lead in shots, including 4-1 on frame, and an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks.
BUCKEYES COME OUT STRONG AGAIN IN 2nd
In the 50th minute, Agnew found a wide-open Prince with a cross from the left wing but her header from the center of the box fell right to Clem.
Then 10 minutes later, Prince connected with Walts at the top of the box but Clem again lunged to make the stop on the shot from 18 yards.
NORTHWESTERN TRIES TO HIT ON COUNTER
In the 61st minute, Northwestern tried to capitalize on the counter after a Buckeye free kick when Nikia Smith broke free but Ohio State goalkeeper Megan Geldernick came out to pick the ball off her foot and keep it a scoreless match.
OHIO STATE CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR GO-AHEAD GOAL
Seven minutes later, Nicole Miyashiro played a long ball in from just inside midfield on the right wing and Walts was able to get a head on it from six yards out but again Clem was there to make the stop.
Two minutes after that, Agnew made a brilliant run down the left wing through the Northwestern defense and tried to sneak a shot from eight yards past Clem on the near post but the Wildcat goalkeeper was able to get a foot on it to deflect the shot wide left.
In the final minute of regulation, the Buckeyes earned three corners but were unable to find that back of the net as the match headed to overtime for the fourth time in 2016.
SO CLOSE IN THE FIRST OVERTIME
Less than a minute into overtime, Morgan Wolcott possessed at the top of the box on the right wing but her blast narrowly missed wide left.
With just over a minute left in the first overtime, an Agnew cross fell directly to Wolcott but the low strike from 12 yards on the right wing deflected off the left post and was cleared away.
BOTH TEAMS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY IN FINAL 10
After an Agnew blast from distance was snagged by Clem in the 106th minute, the Wildcats had a chance of their own the very next time down the field when Maddy Lucas controlled just outside the top of the box and fired a left-footed shot off the left post before it was cleared away by an Ohio State defender as the match ended in a scoreless draw.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Shots: Ohio State 28, Northwestern 9
Saves: Northwestern 9, Ohio State 2
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 9, Northwestern 2
Corner Kicks: Ohio State 17, Northwestern 3
BUCKEYE BITS
– The 17 corner kicks were the most for the Buckeyes since they recorded 19 in 1-0 overtime win against St. Francis in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
– Ohio State earned its second-consecutive clean sheet and now has four on the year.
– The Buckeyes recorded 28 shots against the Wildcats, marking the second time they’ve tallied at least 20 shots in a match this season.
– Ohio State is 2-0-2 on the year in overtime matches after the scoreless draw. The Buckeyes are 5-0-5 in overtime matches over the last two seasons and are undefeated in their last 13 overtime contests.
UP NEXT
Ohio State hosts travels to Maryland at 7 p.m. Thursday.
