OSU freshman midfielder Sarah Roberts (10) during a game against Minnesota on Sept. 17 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. OSU lost 2-1. Credit: Sam Harris / For The Lantern
The Ohio State women’s soccer season came to an end on Sunday afternoon after falling to top-seeded and sixth-ranked Penn State 4-0 in the third round of the NCAA tournament.
The Buckeyes conclude their 2015 season with a 13-7-3 record.
The first half featured back-and-forth soccer, with each team getting its decent share of chances to score. But it wasn’t until the near end of the half when Penn State struck first.
In the 43rd minute, freshman defender Ellie Jean found sophomore forward Megan Schafer at the center of the box, who turned and fired a left-footed strike from 12 yards beyond the outstretched arm of OSU redshirt junior goalkeeper Jillian McVicker.
Heading into halftime, the Nittany Lions held the 11-2 lead in shots, 4-0 on frame.
Immediately returning from the break, Penn State doubled its lead when sophomore midfielder Emily Ogle played a free kick to the center of the box, headed by senior forward/midfielder Raquel Rodriguez past McVicker to make it a 2-0 game.
In the 51st minute, the Nittany Lions put another point on the board when Ogle kicked a shot from just outside the 18 that headed into the upper 90’s to give Penn State led 3-0.
OSU got its first quality look at the net in the 62nd minute after Lindsay Agnew split a pair of Penn State defenders heading down the left wing. But her shot landed in the arms of Nittany Lion senior goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom to keep the shutout intact.
Penn State put its final point on the board in the 75th minute when sophomore midfielder Haleigh Echard connected on a shot from 25 yards out, bouncing off the far post and into the net for the 4-0 lead.
Although the season has come to an end for the Buckeyes, OSU’s senior class, consisting of Katelyn Kraft, Michela Paradiso and Marisa Wolf, has ended its career with 45 wins, a Big Ten tournament championship and a pair of trips to the Sweet 16 in three NCAA appearances.
The conclusion of the season also marks OSU coach Lori Walker’s 19th season as coach of the Buckeyes.
With the win, Penn State advances to the quarterfinals, where it is set to face off against No. 2 West Virginia on either Nov. 27 or Nov. 28.
