Head coach John Bluem turned heads with his XI for No. 1-seeded Ohio State's Big Ten semifinal clash vs. No.4-seeded Rutgers. Midfielder Kyle Culbertson, who has been nothing short of electric during the Buckeyes' stretch run, wasn't included.
Those questions, however, didn't linger long. The No. 12 Buckeyes jumped out to a lead within the game's first 57 seconds when Westerville product/Ohio State midfielder Abdi Mohamed doubled his account on the year:
VIDEO: @_abdi_1 gets the Buckeyes on the board in the opening minute with his second goal of 2015. #GoBucks https://t.co/OnLhyDTXtn
— OhioStateMen'sSoccer (@OhioState_MSOC) November 13, 2015
The Buckeyes didn't relent there, either. Nineteen minutes later, forward Danny Jensen cut in front the defense to get on the end of a cross to double Ohio State's lead:
GIF: Watch and learn. That's how you finish. @2ndjensen 2-0 Buckeyes. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/yOgNxh0Rls
— OhioStateMen'sSoccer (@OhioState_MSOC) November 13, 2015
The Buckeyes kept that lead at halftime. Unbelievably, the Buckeyes opened the second half with an even quicker goal than their first. Junior forward Christian Soldat got on the end of a Yaw Amenkwa cross to all but settle the game 15 seconds into the second half:
VIDEO: @C_Soldat with the easy finish from the cross by @YAmankwa. His fifth of the year. #GoBucks https://t.co/8xKp3A9zC4
— OhioStateMen'sSoccer (@OhioState_MSOC) November 13, 2015
It was Soldat's fifth goal of the year.
In the 86th minute, freshman defender Alex Nichols took a 25-yard crack at goal (only his second shot of the year) and Rutgers goalkeeper David Greczek misjudged his backpost cover and surrendered the fourth goal of the day.
The clean sheet is Ohio State's second in as many tournament games.
The Buckeyes will host the winner of No. 2 Indiana/No. 3 Maryland, which is set to kickoff in Columbus momentarily. The championship will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at Ohio State.
