Ohio State Concludes Season with 2-1 Setback to No. 3 Duke in Sweet 16

Season concludes with second consecutive appearance in NCAA Sweet 16

Durham, N.C. – The Ohio State women’s soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to top-seeded and No. 3 Duke in the third round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday afternoon in Durham, N.C. With the loss, the Buckeyes’ season comes to a close with a 12-9-2 record and a second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance.

"This team found a second life and made something of it,” Ohio State head coach Lori Walker said. “We always said we wanted to advance until we met a team that is playing better than us. I hope Duke goes far and they do well. I give credit to our seniors for leading us to be here and we've got nothing to be disappointed about."
The Blue Devils had the first opportunity of the game in the seventh minute when Laura Weinberg drilled a left-footed shot from 25 yards out that deflected off the crossbar and out of play.

The Buckeyes then took the lead with a counter-attack in the 29th minute. Tiffany Cameron possessed just past midfield and played a nice through ball to Paige Maxwell at the top of the box. Maxwell took two dribbles and beat oncoming goalkeeper Tara Campbell with a left-footed finish from eight yards.

Duke nearly tallied the equalizer in the 41st minute when a cross from Chelsea Canepa skimmed across the top of the crossbar and was cleared out of play as Ohio State went into the half with a 1-0 lead.

The Blue Devils held an 8-2 shot advantage in the first half and both teams put one on goal.

Duke then tied it in the 54th minute when Kelly Cobb finished a loose ball in the box from 10 yards out off a free kick from Nicole Lipp.

The Blue Devils almost took the lead in the 62nd but Ohio State goalkeeper Katie Baumgardner ranged far to her left to make a diving save on a shot by Cobb from the top of the box.

Ohio State hit Duke with a counter in the 77th minute as Danica Wu played a through ball looking for Maxwell but Campbell came out and was able to clip the ball off Maxwell’s foot.

Kaitlyn Kerr then gave Duke the lead in the 81st minute when she headed in a long ball far post off a free kick by Lipp for a 2-1 Blue Devil advantage.

The Buckeyes mustered one final chance with less than 20 seconds remaining when Lauren Granberg got her head on a long ball from Aly Walker but it was saved off the line by Duke defender Natasha Anasi as the Blue Devils came away with the victory.

The 2011 senior class wraps up their careers with 51 victories, tied for the most in Ohio State history. The group became the first class to advance to the Sweet 16 twice and played in the only College Cup in program history in 2010.