Ohio State excellence is not exclusive to the football field or the basketball court. Around the Oval is our way of keeping you informed of the amazing things happening with the other 34 varsity sports on campus.
Atop the Standings
Despite last week's loss to Rutgers, the Ohio State men's soccer team still controlled their own destiny. With two wins against Maryland and Michigan to close the season, the Buckeyes would be crowed Big Ten regular season champions.
With a 1-0 shutout victory over Maryland, they're halfway there.
Maryland native Yaw Amankwa, playing against his hometown team, scored the game's lone goal – and it was a filthy one.
ICYMI: @YAmankwa did this last night. #GoBucks https://t.co/iYb1O73MBf
— OhioStateMen'sSoccer (@OhioState_MSOC) November 1, 2015
“At the beginning of the season, we knew we could do something special and these are the type of games you want to play in,” Amankwa said in an Ohio State release. “We proved tonight we can play with anyone. My dad actually called me before the game and said to do everything I could to help us win and I gave him an early Christmas present. Tonight was the No. 1 moment in my playing career.”
After the goal, it was up to the defense to ensure it was enough, and they delivered. Led by senior goalkeeper Chris Froschauer, the Buckeye defense completed their B1G-best eighth clean-sheet.
“We knew we were going to have a difficult second half but the back four played very well,” head coach John Bluem said. “Zach Mason and Abdi Mohamed were the unsung heroes. They never stopped working.”
With the win, Ohio State sits atop the Big Ten standings and will face rival Michigan, Wednesday night for the Big Ten regular season championship.
“To be in a position Wednesday night is great, but you have to win the game,” said Bluem of the upcoming match. “We will prepare like we’ve done all year long. It should be an exciting night of college soccer.”
The game will be in Columbus Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
Win or Go Home
The Ohio State women's soccer team was in do-or-die mode this week. A loss would end their season, but wins keep them alive.
Wednesday, the Buckeyes hosted Michigan State in the regular season finale with a
Ohio State senior forward Michela Paradiso (via Ohio State Athletics).
Big Ten tournament birth on the line.
Fittingly, senior Michela Paradiso was the hero for the Buckeyes on senior night. She scored both of the game's goals to give Ohio State a 2-0 victory, and punch their ticket to the Big Ten tournament.
“Any time you’re in a must-win situation and your team steps up to the challenge, you have to feel good. It’s awesome for Michela, our senior captain, to help carry us and score twice on Senior Day," said head coach Lori Walker in an Ohio State release.
The win pitted the No. 7 seed Buckeyes against the No. 2 seed and 25th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in another win-or-go-home match.
Again, Ohio State thrived under pressure. The Buckeyes bested the Badgers 2-1 behind goals from Michela Paradiso and Sammy Edwards combined with some find goalkeeping from freshman goalkeeper Devon Kerr.
"I’m very proud of our resiliency and willingness to battle because Wisconsin threw everything at us,” said Walker in a release.
The Buckeyes will need that same resiliency going forward. From now on, every game is a must win game for the scarlet and gray, starting with No. 3 seed Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, Friday.
Picking Up Where He Left Off
This weekend, defending NCAA National Champion Nathan Tomasello picked up right where he left off last season.
Tomasello defeated Zeke Moisey, the same opponent he faced in his NCAA Championship match last March, to take first place at the NWCA All-Star Classic.
@_LogieBear_ thanks brother!! U have had a big impact, glad your staying a tOSU!
— Nathan Tomasello (@Nate_Tomasello) November 2, 2015
Tomasello, just a true sophomore, is the consensus No. 1 ranked wrestler in the 125 lb. weight class.
Despite missing Kyle Snyder, who will redshirt this season as he trains for the 2016 Olympics, the Buckeyes have high hopes for the season and boast plenty of talent, led of course by defending NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello.
Ohio State is ranked No. 5 in the preseason rankings and will be looking to defend their national championship as they open their season at the Eastern Michigan Open, Saturday.
Other Scores and News
- Women's Volleyball: Dropped both matches to No. 3 Penn State, 3-0 and 3-1.
- Men's Hockey: Split the series with Mercyhurst, losing their first game 1-2, but winning the second 5-1. The win is the team's first of the season.
- Women's Hockey: Won both games against Minnesota State 5-3 and 4-0.
- Field Hockey: Lost to Kent State 3-1 and Michigan 3-0.
- Men's Cross Country: Finished ninth at the B1G Championships with 201 points.
- Women's Cross Country: Finished seventh at the B1G Championships
- Rifle: Set an aggregate school record for the second time this year with a score of 4676 at the Buckeye Open.
- Women's Tennis: Ohio State swept Tennessee in doubles and split singles matches 3-3 with Arizona State in this weekend's UT Fall Invite.
- Men's Swimming: Won first meet of the season 193-98 against Kenyon.
- Women's Swimming: Won first two meets of the season against Ohio and Kenyon, 211-85 and 207-88, then finished behind Purdue but ahead of Notre Dame, Saturday.
What's Happening This Week
- Men's Soccer: Faces Michigan, Wednesday with the B1G regular season championship on the line.
- Women's Soccer: Faces Rutgers in B1G Tournament Semifinal, Friday.
- Women's Volleyball: Visits Maryland, Friday and Rutgers, Saturday.
- Women's Hockey: Hosts Bemidji State, Friday and Saturday.
- Field Hockey: Faces Northwestern in the B1G Tournament quarterfinals.
- Rifle: Continues the second weekend of the Buckeye Open.
- Wrestling: Competes in Eastern Michigan Open
- Men's Swimming: Hosts Denison, Friday.
- Women's Swimming: Hosts Denison, Friday.
