Around the Oval: Soccer Concludes Respective Seasons, Volleyball Splits, Cross Country at the NCAA Regionals and More

Men's and Women's Soccer End

In the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament and the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the men's and women's soccer teams both mate their mate to the end of the 2017 season this week.

After the men kept their season alive with a 2-1 upset at Michigan State in their first round tournament matchup, they traveled to Westfield, IN where they were defeated by No. 2 Indiana, 4-0.

It was all Hoosiers early. Indiana got their first score in the 17th minute on a sliding shot from Cory Thomas. 

Ohio State was able to keep the score close with a 1-0 halftime deficit, but the Buckeyes looked overmatched and it certainly showed throughout the second. Hoosier Andrew Gutman scored at 46:48 to get the scoring scored right out of the half for Indiana before Francesco Moore made it three-nil off a corner cook in the 62nd minute.

Nine minutes later, the Hoosiers got their fourth and final goal o the game on a header from Austin Panchot.

Ohio State finished the season with an 8-10-1 record.

Women's soccer season ends on a Heartbreaker

Coming into the tournament as a fourth seed, the Ohio State women's soccer team was tasked with Vanderbilt to begin the tournament. They played the Commodores tough, though they lost on a heartbreaker in the 89th minute and concluded their season Friday night at Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Field in Columbus.

The score was tied late in the second half after scores from Sarah Roberts in the 30th minute and an answer from Vanderbilt's Nia Dorsey in the 62nd minute.

Both teams got a couple good looks, but nothing until the Commodores got a corner kick near the end of the half. Leila Azari sent the try to the crowd of forwards and defenders and found the head of her teammate Stephanie Amack, who glanced the ball in from six yards out for the shocking win over the Buckeyes.

"I'm very proud of our seniors and this team overall," head coach Lori Walker-Hock said. "You don't plan for this and you don't rehearse it. It hurts so much because you care so much along the way. We have a lot to be proud of but it was a tough way to end the season tonight. Credit to Vanderbilt. They did what they've done all year and they were very efficient."

Volleyball Splits a pair of B1G Games

The week for the Buckeye volleyball team featured the 400th win for head coach Geoff Carlston before the team lost 3-1 in the Saturday night cap in Iowa City.

Carlston's 400th career win came against Rutgers, and saw the Buckeyes roll in the match by a 3-0 score.

Becca Maurer distributed 32 assists in the second career start for the freshman while Ashley Wenz contributed a double-double of 13 kills and 12 digs. Luisa Schirmer added in 10 more of her own.

After keeping the first set close at 25-21, the wheels fell off for the Scarlet Knights and the Buckeyes won the next two 25-12, 25-17.

Buckeyes Falter in Four in Iowa City

Despite a back-to-back strong performance from freshman Becca Maurer, Ohio State was unable to keep the momentum going from Nov. 8 against Rutgers, as the Buckeyes were downed in four 3-1 against Iowa Saturday night in Iowa City.

Bauer dished out a career-high 51 assists for the Buckeyes, distributing to Schirmer with 18 kills, Wenz with 17 herself and Madison Smeathers with 10 of her own. 

The Buckeyes won the second set 25-22 after Iowa got out to a fast 25-18 set start, though the Hawkeyes swing the other way the rest of the match. The Hawkeyes would not let the momentum switch.

Ohio State will host Nebraska Friday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at St. John Arena

Cross Country Competes at NCAA Regionals

Neither the men's or women's cross country teams made it out of the NCAA Great Lakes Regional to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

The top two teams from each region automatically qualify for the national race. The Ohio State women finished seventh with a team score of 189 points while the men finished 15th out of 25 teams with 398 points.

Out of both the men and the women, the sport will only have one individual competing at the national championship meet, to take place Nov. 18 at the Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, KY.

With a time of 20:53.3 and a finish of 10th, senior Christine Frederick will compete in her first NCAA Championship. The two previous years, Frederick had come up short of advancing with placings of 41st and 26th, respectively.

Other Scores & News

• Wrestling repped the "Pin Chain" and ethered Arizona State Sunday afternoon.
• Women's basketball downed Stanford before losing in OT to Louisville.
• Hockey got wins from both the men and women this weekend.
• Christo Law swept all three diving events at the Minnesota Diving Invitational
• Pistol took down MIT in Cambridge