OSU junior forward Nate Kohl (27) heads the ball in the second half Jesse Owns Memorial Stadium on Sept. 28. Credit: Michelle McDonnell | Lantern Photographer
The Ohio State men’s soccer team faced off against Big Ten rival Michigan on Friday night in an overtime thriller. On the strength of a game-winning goal in the final seconds of a second overtime period, the Buckeyes left Ann Arbor victorious, taking a 1-0 contest against the Wolverines.
The first 90 minutes were a defensive showdown.
The Buckeyes registered 12 shots through both regulation periods, while the Wolverines put up 11 shots. However, neither team was able to find the back of the net, as the game headed to overtime at 0-0.
After a first overtime period, where the two teams combined for only three total shots, both schools looked as though they would be happy with a scoreless draw.
Junior forward Nate Kohl, however, would not be pleased with such a result.
With just 23 seconds remaining in the second overtime period, senior forward Ben Fitzpatrick drove up the middle of the field with the ball. With a three-on-two advantage, Fitzpatrick passed it over to Kohl on his right just outside the box.
Kohl then fired the ball into the left corner for the game’s only score, beating the keeper and stealing a victory for the Buckeyes.
For Kohl, who played his freshman year at Michigan before transferring to Ohio State, it was his team-leading sixth goal of the year. It was Kohl’s first time returning to Ann Arbor since the transfer.
OSU redshirt freshman goalkeeper Parker Siegfried recorded his third career shutout in the win, making two saves in the match.
For the Buckeyes, they picked up a much-needed win in conference, moving to 3-3-1 in the Big Ten on the year.
Next up, OSU will take on Akron on Wednesday in Columbus. The match will function as the last regular-season home game for the Scarlet and Gray this year.
