Quadrupling the Badgers in shots on goal and nearly tripling them in total shots wasn’t enough for the Buckeyes to overcome Wisconsin Sunday.
Ohio State men’s soccer (6-10-1, 1-6-1 Big Ten) ended its regular season on a negative note after losing a 1-0 defensive battle to Wisconsin (3-10-4, 1-4-3) at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Wisconsin senior goalkeeper Dean Cowdroy completed a shutout with his fourth save of the contest in its final minute, denying junior midfielder Mitch Bergman’s potential game-tying strike.
The Buckeyes dominated possession and had 11 shots total, including seven in the first half. Wisconsin attempted just four the entire match.
“We had the ball pretty much the whole game,” senior midfielder Jack Holland said. “We kept it. We had good opportunities. We just were missing that final pass, the final shot, and that final run.”
Wisconsin redshirt sophomore defender Zach Klancnik scored the eventual game-winner in the 52nd minute.
The Buckeyes had a variety of chances to grab a goal of their own in the second half, including four corner opportunities and two shots on goal, but could not beat Cowdroy and the Badger defense.
“I thought we were flat in a lot of ways,” head coach Brian Maisonneuve said. “Our lack of urgency to move the ball when we had numbers up to get it up. Even on some set pieces. Some chances where we should be licking our chops but we had no urgency.”
The first half contained a number of other missed Ohio State opportunities as well. Sophomore midfielder Xavier Green had a threatening bottom-right strike in the 24th minute, but the shot was saved by Cowdroy.
Holland received a pass outside the box with a wide-open opportunity to strike at the 32nd minute, but missed wide right.
In the 38th minute, Ohio State had a promising look on a corner, but junior forward Matteo Bennati’s cross was intercepted.
Ohio State has won just one game since its Sept. 17 victory over South Florida, and finish the regular season having lost or tied 10 of its past 11 contests.
The Buckeyes’ season isn’t finished, however, as Big Ten tournament play still remains. Dates and matches are still being decided.