Top-Seeded Men’s Soccer Beats Michigan To Win Big Ten Tournament Championship
For the fourth time in program history, No. 1 Ohio State men’s soccer has double-dipped.
Winning the Big Ten regular season championship is one feat, but the Buckeyes secured their first Big Ten tournament championship since 2015 with a 1-0 win over Michigan on Sunday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in front of a crowd of 8,938 – the largest crowd in the venue’s history.
Neither team drew first blood through the first 45 minutes of play, but it was senior midfielder Parker Grinstead who put Ohio State on the board in the 73rd minute. Redshirt junior netminder Max Trejo saved four shots in the winning effort.
Grinstead earned the Most Outstanding Player honors for the Big Ten tournament, posting three goals across the two games the Buckeyes won en route to the crown.
The Buckeyes had four members on the All-Tournament team, with Grinstead, Trejo, defender Siggi Magnusson and midfielder Anthony Samways all being featured on the list.
With the win, Ohio State will receive an automatic bid and first-round bye in the NCAA tournament where it will carry the No. 1 overall seed and play the winner of the first-round matchup between Western Michigan and SIUE at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Sunday at 5 p.m. It’ll be the first time the Buckeyes have hosted an NCAA tournament game since 2015.
If the Buckeyes advance past the second round, it will face off against the winner of No. 16 seed Standford and UCLA/Santa Barbara on either Nov. 30 or Dec. 1.
Women’s Soccer Drops James Madison In Opening Round Of NCAA Tournament
With its 4-1 win over James Madison on Friday, Ohio State earned its ninth trip all-time to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Sophomore forward Amanda Schlueter needed just 38 seconds to find the back of the net against the Dukes and freshman defender Jacinda Bonham lifted Ohio State to a 2-0 lead in the 21st minute.
Senior forward Amanda Attanasi brought the Dukes within one at 34:13 to close out the first half.
The tale of the season has been the play of Schlueter and senior forward Kailyn Dudukovich, so naturally the latter of the pair scored at 62:03 to give Ohio State a 3-1 advantage before the other Bonham sister, freshman forward Jadin, closed out the scoring for the Buckeyes at 67:24 – with the assist coming from Jacinda.
Next, Ohio State will head to Winston-Salem, N.C., to face off against No. 6-seed Auburn on Friday.
No. 2 Women’s Ice Hockey Splits Against Wisconsin, Picks Up Three Points
In what has become the premier rivalry in collegiate women’s ice hockey, No. 2 Ohio State and top-ranked Wisconsin skated to an even weekend, with the Badgers winning 4-2 on Friday and Ohio State winning 3-2 Saturday at the Ohio State Ice Rink.
The Buckeyes stormed out of the gate on Friday, leading 2-0 in the first period after goals from Wisconsin transfer and forward Maddi Wheeler and forward Jenna Buglioni with the scores coming just 14 seconds apart.
The Badgers scored the next four straight with forwards Lacey Eden (two goals) and Casey O’Brien finding the back of the net. Wisconsin blueliner Caroline Harvey scored an empty-netter at 19:51.2 in the third period to close out the win.
It was another hot start for Ohio State on Saturday, however a much more sustainable defensive effort in the win. Forwards Makenna Webster and Wheeler gave Ohio State a 2-0 lead midway through the first before Kirstin Simms brought the Badgers within one on a power-play goal at 12:28.
After a scoreless second period, graduate forward Kiara Zanon added a short-handed goal to put Ohio State up two at 12:01 in the third. Forward Maggie Scannell gave Wisconsin its second power-play score of the day at 12:34 before Ohio State held on to pick up its second win in the past three contests over the Badgers (13-1-0, 9-1-0 WCHA).
Goaltender Amanda Thiele tallied 24 saves in her eighth win of the season.
Ohio State (12-3-2, 7-3-2 WCHA) will skate next against conference opponent Minnesota State in Mankato, Minn., on Friday and Saturday.
Women’s Volleyball Goes .500 Over Weekend At Home
After a three-match road trip, Ohio State women’s volleyball returned to the Covelli Center in Columbus, falling to Maryland on Friday before winning over Rutgers on Saturday.
The Buckeyes dropped the first two sets to the Terrapins (13-14, 4-12 Big Ten), losing 25-22 and 25-18, respectively. In a do-or-die third set, Ohio State stormed back with a 25-18 victory before ultimately losing the match after a 25-21 fourth set decision.
The win over Rutgers (5-22, 0-16 Big Ten) gave Ohio State its sixth sweep of the season, winning 25-19, 25-16, 26-24 across the three sets. Graduate outsider hitter Emily Londot, who has carved her name into Ohio State history as one of the most accomplished volleyball players, tallied a team-high 18 kills, continuing her season-long streak of at least 10 kills in a match.
Outsider hitter Grace Egan also added eight kills in the win.
Ohio State (12-14, 5-11 Big Ten) stays at home for the next two matches, first hosting Washington on Friday before welcoming Indiana to the Covelli Center.
© 2024 Buckeye Sports Bulletin.
