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Seven college soccer teams traveled to East Lansing this season to play Michigan State, but none left with a victory. Ohio State arrived Sunday with plenty at stake, most notably a fourth-consecutive No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Men’s Soccer Championship.
“The seeding in the conference tournament, the way it’s set up with the No.1 team getting a bye, you don’t want to be in that 4 or 5 game,” coach John Bluem said. “You have to play Thursday, and then turn right around and play the conference champion on Friday – they don’t play on Thursday, so they’re well-rested, and they have the opportunity to watch you play and scout you.”
Senior forward Xavier Balc prevented this scenario and helped secure the No. 2 seed by scoring a goal and assisting on another to lead the No.18 Buckeyes (11-3-4, 4-1-1) to a 2-0 win against the Spartans (11-4-3, 2-3-1) at Old College Field. The victory established new records for the team and its seniors, but most importantly it strengthened the Buckeyes’ bid for the NCAA tournament.
“We’ve been afraid this year all along of not getting to the NCAA tournament again after being left out a year ago with what we thought was a sufficient resume,” Bluem said.
OSU was 11-7-3 overall and 3-2-1 in the Big Ten last season.
Even if OSU were to lose its first-round game in the conference tournament, both Bluem and Balc said the Buckeyes should make the NCAA tournament field.
“I think we have enough quality wins that we should definitely get into the NCAA tournament,” said Balc, who was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for his performance at Michigan State.
In addition to the victory at then-No.18 Michigan State, the Buckeyes’ quality wins include a 1-0 victory against No.16 West Virginia, a 3-2 victory at then-No.25 Old Dominion and a 1-0 win against Penn State. OSU also tied at No. 8 Indiana 0-0, tied at No.17 Akron 1-1 and tied at Louisville 1-1.
The victory at Michigan State extended the Buckeyes’ unbeaten streak to a program-record eight games (6-0-2) and gave the 2007 senior class 45 wins, which is also a new OSU record.
The only rough stretch for the Buckeyes occurred at the end of September when they lost at home to No.14 Northwestern 4-0, tied at Akron 1-1 and lost at Wisconsin-Green Bay 1-0.
“The thing we tried to convey to everyone on the team is not to panic – that’s the worst thing you can possibly do,” senior goalkeeper Casey Latchem said.
“I thought that this team was experienced enough and mature enough that they would respond from that little stretch,” Bluem said.
OSU won its following game at home against Cal State Bakersfield 1-0 and commenced its record-setting unbeaten streak.
As captains, Latchem, Balc and senior player of the year candidate Eric Brunner have guided the Buckeyes.
“They’ve made sure that their work ethic day-in and day-out in training and during matches has been good, because then when they demand that from the other players they get that respect,” Bluem said.
“Some of the games this season have been must-wins, and so the three of us have had to step up and carry the team, whether it be emotionally or with our play,” Balc said.
The three captains will lead the Buckeyes back into East Lansing, the site of this year’s Big Ten tournament, Thursday at 10:30 a.m. for their first-round match against Michigan. OSU defeated the Wolverines 1-0 in overtime at home Oct.27.
“They’re going to come out just like we did – hard-nosed,” Balc said. “It’s always a battle between us and Michigan, and we expect a tough game.”
Kyle Clapham can be reached at [email protected].
