OSU junior forward Nichelle Prince (7) dribbles the ball during a game agaisnt Minnesota on Sept. 17 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. OSU lost 2-1. Credit: Sam Harris
Following a loss and a draw at home last weekend, the Ohio State women’s soccer team (5-2-2, 0-1-1) is set to hit the road for two conference matchups this weekend.
The Buckeyes will head to Iowa City, Iowa, for a Friday evening match to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes (6-3-0, 0-2), followed by a trip to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a Sunday afternoon game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-3-1, 0-1-1).
OSU coach Lori Walker said she is not concerned about the hours of travel for her players, and has confidence going into the weekend.
“The travel for us, we actually look at it as a nice time to get away,” Walker said. “It gives extra study time, gives extra time together, and it’s not really something that stresses us out. We get on the road and leave everything here in Columbus, and we’re excited about these two games because I think that if we continue to progress the way we should be then we should be able to find some success.”
Members of the Scarlet and Gray said they hope to pick up two wins on the road this weekend and get back to the way they believe they can play.
“Our schedule is pretty set, but we need to bring some spice to training. Everything that we’re doing, just asking them to be competitive,” Walker said. “It’s about figuring out a way to win.”
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Jillian McVicker said she finds opportunity in playing on the road.
“I love playing away just because we’re in a new environment and get to take them on somewhere else than (Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium),” McVicker said.
Walker focuses on another obstacle: pushing her team through the second half of the season.
“We have to challenge them to constantly be in the moment,” Walker said. “When you walk through the gates we have a quote of the day and the point behind that is when they get here and they focus on the quote of the day, they come through the gates and it’s leave your life for these two hours and your life will be there for you after the fact.”
McVicker said she understands what needs to be done to keep moving forward as Big Ten play is officially underway.
“We just have to keep our eyes on the prize and keep our goals in line and focus on the process,” Walker said. “Every single day we just have to be focused and be diligent in practice and take what the coaches are saying and go into it like that.”
OSU is slated to kick off against Iowa at 8 p.m. and Nebraska at 2:05 p.m.
