The No. 13 Ohio State men’s soccer team (6-0-1, 1-0-0 Big Ten) kept its streak alive over the weekend with a pair of victories at the Ohio State/Nike Classic held at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
On Friday evening, OSU won 4-1 over the No. 14 Creighton Bluejays in the second game of the four game, four team Ohio State/Nike Classic.
The Bluejays ended the Buckeyes’ season last year in a 1-0 victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Creighton eventually lost in the NCAA national championship game.
“Having your season end like that, everyone remembers,” said OSU midfielder Tony Earp. “No one wanted the same outcome so we came out and showed it on the field tonight.”
In the first 15 minutes of the game the ball did not get deep into either offensive zone. OSU midfielder Peter Withers broke the scoreless tie when he took feeds from midfielders AJ Weber and Andy Rosenband in the 17th minute.
Both teams came out aggressively in the first half. The teams played to a combined 25 fouls, including five yellow cards. Weber received his second yellow card and was ejected in the 33rd minute. The red card resulted in the Buckeyes playing much of the game a man down.
“The effort our players gave playing a man down was spectacular,” said John Bluem, OSU men’s soccer coach. “The organization, the discipline and the quality attitude were excellent.”
Playing with a man disadvantage did not phase the Buckeyes. OSU scored its second goal in the 55th minute when Rosenband took a pass from midfielder Sammy Tamporello and lifted the ball over Bluejay keeper Andrew Brown for his fifth goal of the season.
“It was a great goal to get playing a man down.” Rosenband said. “I just stayed up front and I hoped I could get a good chance. Sammy gave me a great ball and I put it past their keeper.”
Creighton cut the lead to one in the 71st minute when midfielder Dave Minges netted an 8-yard shot off the post and passed OSU keeper Kerry Thompson.
Exactly three minutes later OSU cushioned its lead by putting another shot past Brown. This time sophomore Justin Cook controlled an Earp pass. The goal was Cook’s second for the season.
In the 75th minute CU’s Mike Tranchilla received a red card and was ejected.
The rest of the game the teams played even.
To gain another attacker, Creighton pulled its keeper and moved defender Skylar Nelson from his defensive position to tend goal in the 81st minute.
“We wanted to put another scorer on the field,” said Bob Warming, Creighton coach. “What does it matter if you lose, 3-1 or 4-1.”
Less than 30 seconds later, Earp drilled a shot past Nelson on a breakaway to give the Buckeyes a 4-1 lead.
“This win is a credit to how far this team has come,” Bluem said. “This was a quality, nationally ranked program and we outplayed them tonight. This team is as good as any team we will face in the Big Ten and now we know we can play with anyone.”
Ohio State 1, Southwest Missouri State 0
On Sunday, the Buckeyes wrapped up the tournament championship with a 1-0 victory over Southwest Missouri State.
OSU defender Sam Migliano scored the game’s only goal in the 15th minute.
OSU keeper Kerry Thompson recorded the shutout and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
“Kerry made some big saves for us,” Bluem said. “Toward the end of the second half he probably made the save of the weekend. He deserves the MVP.”
Thompson was more subdued.
“Today was tough,” he said. “It’s all part of the job. It’s a total team effort whether we win or lose.”
Although OSU and Penn State finished the tournament 2-0-0, OSU won the championship based on goal differential. OSU’s was plus 4, while Penn State’s was plus 2.
