Ohio State defender Lauren Beachy’s first collegiate goal was a historic one for the Buckeyes.
Beachy connected on a penalty shot in the 21st minute of play for a game-winning shot that sent the OSU women’s soccer team to its first Final Four appearance in program history after a 2-0 victory against Georgetown at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
“I knew that it was my role to step up and do what I had to do,” Beachy said. “I knew it was my time.”
Tiffany Cameron tacked on an insurance goal in the 53rd minute of play when she sprinted down the left side of the field and floated a long ball over Georgetown goalkeeper Jackie DesJardin. Forwards Lauren Granberg and Paige Maxwell both assisted on the goal, which was Cameron’s seventh of the season.
“Georgetown was a tough team to prepare for,” OSU coach Lori Walker said. “They didn’t get here by accident. It was amazing to kind of watch as that second goal went in, you could see kind of a change.”
The No. 3-seeded Buckeyes held on to their 2-0 lead for the final 37 minutes of action by dominating the ball throughout the second half, out-shooting the No. 4-seeded Hoyas 17-8. OSU goalkeeper Katie Baumgardner and the Buckeye defense recorded their third NCAA Tournament shutout.
“Our defense comes to play every game,” Beachy said. “It’s a team concept. There’s not one of us who is an all-star. We all work together and we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”
The Buckeyes will head to Cary, N.C., to play Notre Dame on Friday, with the winner advancing to the national championship game against the winner of Stanford and Boston College.
Walker, who won a national championship as North Carolina’s starting goalkeeper in 1989, will focus on preparing her team to play on the biggest stage in collegiate women’s soccer.
“I’m not going to lie. I mean, to go back to Cary and to be the first Tar Heel alum to make the Final Four is pretty special,” Walker said. “We’re going to do exactly what we’ve been doing. It really is just about being in the moment, and all we’ve got to do is be one goal better than the team we play on Friday night.”
