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Ohio State Men's Soccer (Official Thread)

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Ohio State looked good on the road and at home racking up a four game winning streak, but they would get a real test when they traveled to Indiana putting their winning streak on the line. Ohio State was on the cusp of a spot in the nations top twenty-five with their run of play, being voted number twenty-six in the NSCAA. The first RPI rankings were released this week in which Ohio State faired a little better starting out thirteenth behind fellow Big Ten teams Northwestern second and Indiana Eighth.

Indiana is a formidable team retuning eight of their starters from a team that when 15-4-3, 4-1-1 in the Big Ten winning both the Big Ten regular season title and the Big Ten tournament championship. Ohio State has a deplorable series against the Hoosiers 43-2-1 all time.

With a disappointing game offensively, the defense led by goal keeper Casey Latchem would have to pull the game out for the Buckeyes. Ohio State only got thirteen shots off against Indiana ten of which were off target, the three that were on goal were saved easily by Chay Cain the Indiana Keeper. If Ohio State were going to win the goal would have had to have come from Xavier Balc who once again tried to put this Ohio State team on his back and lead them to victory, however he along with the Buckeyes came up short against the Hoosiers. Indiana got 18 shots only eight of which were off target, of the remaining ten the defense for the Buckeyes only blocked three, the remaining seven were saved by Latchem to maintain the first shutout Ohio State has ever gotten against an Indiana team.

The tie is a better result for the Buckeyes than it is for the Hoosiers and is a continuation of a trend in Ohio State's favor for the series. After having lost nineteen straight in Bloomington Ohio State has now pulled out ties in their last two meetings with the Hoosiers on their own field. As Indiana is the measuring stick in the Big Ten Ohio State's continued improvement against them in head to head competition is a good sign for the future of the program.
 
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This past Saturday was senior day for the Ohio State men's soccer team, it was a good day for the class, as it was a record setting day for both the class and an individual player.

The Buckeyes were 9-3-3 overall and 2-1-1 in the Big Ten putting them in a tie for second place coming into the game. The Wolverines were 10-4-2 coming into the game with all four losses coming in their last seven games. It would have been a terrible day for the Buckeyes to lose to them, not only because they are Michigan, but also because while Michigan is improving, 7-10-4 1-2-3 last year, their Big Ten form has still been awful at 0-2-2. Despite the Buckeyes being favored, Michigan came into the game with a swagger after having upset Akron who was ranked in all national polls on Wednesday.

Even though Ohio State had reason to be confident Michigan is never an opponent to take lightly, they came into the game leading the Big Ten in scoring with 33 goals and an average of 2.7 per game.

Ohio State was the aggressor in the game with twenty of the thirty-one shots recorded in regular time, they couldn't get the upper hand however due to Michigan's stringy defensive effort. Michigan's plan was mainly to pack it in and counter punch, hoping to steal a goal while primarily keeping the Buckeyes out. Their strategy was working getting them past the defense; as a result seven of the Wolverines eleven shots were on goal and unblocked by the defense. Ohio State keeper Casey Latchem didn’t get much help from his defense in this game, they only blocked one of Michigan's remaining shots, the other three were off target. But Latchem would come up big for the Buckeyes again accounting all seven shots that got through.

Getting around Michigan's packed in defense was difficult and visibly frustrated Ohio State, eight of their twenty-one shots were off target, but they managed to get around the defense fairly well getting only four blocked by the defense. In the eighty-forth minute the team's on the field leader Xavier Balc would hit the post from the top of the box, it was a lucky break for Michigan as the shot beat the keeper.

Regulation would end with the teams knotted up in a scoreless tie, but Balc would waste no time with his first chance in overtime. Balc sent a corner to the left side of the box where Tim Gable was perfectly positioned to head it home for his third goal of the season. The goal was a record setter for both Balc and the team, Balc is now the record holder for assists in a season at Ohio State and his class has the most wins of any at Ohio State. Balc adds the accomplishment to his record as all time assist leader at Ohio State, currently sitting on 32 for his career.

Ohio State has now won three of the last four meetings between the two, with the other game a tie the Buckeye's own a four game unbeaten streak over Michigan. Which ties the record in the last eight games at 4-4-1, Ohio State improves the all time series to 12-6-1 overall and 9-3-0 in Columbus. The win also places Ohio State in a tie for first in the Big Ten at 3-1-1.

The Buckeye's have two difficult road games coming up to finish out the season before the Big Ten tournament begins, their first match will be tonight vs. Louisville at 7 P.M. then they will travel to East Lansing to take on the Spartans. Although the Louisville game is out of conference it is an important one for the Buckeyes, while Ohio State is currently fourth in the NSCAA Great Lakes Region the Cardinals are seventh, so the game has implications for seeding in the NCAA tournament.
 
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I will post the full write up for the final two games of the regular season when I get home tomorrow, and do a write up for each of the tournament games. However, for now congratulations to the 2007 Big Ten Champion Ohio State Mens Soccer team.

Screw you Indiana, there's a new lead dog, hope you like the view.
 
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Ohio State’s final out of conference opponent in the regular season would be Louisville, theBuckeyes took a six match win streak into the game at 5-0-1. With their wonderful run of play the Bucks would enter this game ranked twenty-third in the nation. Louisville had not had a bad season either at 10-5-1 with a 5-1-1 mark in their last seven games. Going into the game Ohio State was ranked behind Indiana, Notre Dame, and Northwestern in the Great Lakes Region. The Buckeyes own the lead in the all time series at 6-4-1 but with a 2-4-0 mark at Louisville. With such a good record against such quality opponents it is easy to feel like Ohio State is being disrespected in the national polls. The Bucks have gone on an impressive run late in the season and were ranked seventh in the RPI but couldn’t get above teams with worse records in the polls.

It looked like Xavier Balc came to play against the Cardinals when he got off the first shot in the ninth minute that went over the crossbar. Ohio State would get on the board first when Balc got off his second shot and the second shot of the game by either team, he slotted his second shot past the keeper unassisted. Unfortunately after that Louisville put all their effort into shutting Balc down with little regard for the rest of the team. With the Cardinals keying on him Balc would only get two more shots off the rest of the game, Balc by far the best player on the pitch for Ohio State would still make his presence felt though. In the twenty-seventh minute though Balc is a forward he made an incredible block to keep the lead for the Buckeyes. Unfortunately seven minutes later Freddie Braun would break down the Ohio State defense assisting in a Marco Terminesi goal. The rest of the game would be back and forth but neither team could get on the board again. Casey Latchem would have another solid day in goal tested only three other times he easily saved each. Ohio State had better offence with three more shots and two more shots on goal, but they just couldn’t get the game winner with Balc being harassed by Louisville.
 
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For their final game of the regular season Ohio State would take on a very good Michigan State team in East Lansing. Ohio State would once again take their twenty-third ranking on the road, this time however it was against a team that was ranked ahead of them in every major poll. The Buckeyes were unjustly ranked behind the Spartans due to the teams’ almost identical records going into the game Ohio State 10-3-4 and Michigan State 11-3-3. Michigan State might have one more win than Ohio State, and one less loss, Ohio State however played the more difficult schedule and had a better Big Ten record at 3-1-1 to the Spartans’ 2-2-1. This may have fueled the fire for the game as Ohio State worked to become comfortable on the field that the Big Ten tournament would be played on. Ohio State is 13-22-2 against Michigan State all time, however they are improving the record, since they started playing at the O they are undefeated at home at 4-0-1. The Bucks have a poor record at Old College Field at 2-15-1; this just goes to show the vast improvement in Ohio State soccer in the past few years.

When Ohio State came onto the field even with their unbeaten streak and their top twenty-five ranking in every major poll they looked like that had something to prove. This was a team that he not beaten the Spartans at home since 1998, even with that in their minds, even knowing the nation thought more highly of their opponents Ohio State still looked confident. If it wasn’t clear after the Louisville game Xavier Balc made it clear this night that he will put this team on his back this season. Balc wasted no time in this game getting in position and scoring off a cross from Roger Espinoza in the seventh minute. From that point on Ohio State played solid defense and continued to attack. Midway through the first half Balc sent a well struck corner into the box that Eric Brunner headed home. Being up two goals Ohio State continued to play solid defense and took their chances when they got them. Michigan State out-shot Ohio State fourteen to eight but the Buckeyes were closer to putting their third on the board than the Spartans ever were of getting their first. Casey Latchem had another solid game directing his defense and saving the three shots that were on target.

With this win Ohio State gave the Spartans their first home loss of the season, previously 7-0-1. The win also gave this team a program record eight-game unbeaten streak to go along with the records the seniors are already racking up.

Coming into the game senior keeper Casey Latchem was named to the national team of the week for his performance against Michigan. Latchem was also named a first team academic all district along with teammate Doug Verhoff.
 
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Ohio State seeded second for the forth year took on seventh seeded Michigan Thursday in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. Xavier Balc once again got the first shot off for the Buckeyes, and once again he made it count. Balc made a run to the far post and Tim Gabel found him in a position where he could blast it into the net. From that point on Ohio State played tight defense and took what Michigan would give them. Michigan had more shots than Ohio State, fourteen to ten, but Ohio State still had more shots on goal. The Buckeyes never got another goal on the board so it was left to Casey Latchem to protect the lead. The defense played strong in front of him and he saved every goal that came his way. In the end Balc and Latchem sent the Wolverines home and likely out of the NCAA tournament. The win tied the most wins in a single season by an Ohio State team.

Xavier Balc was named Big Ten Offensive player of the year before the tournament began. He was also named to three national team of the week honors by various publications. Balc’s goal was his third game winner of the season and ninth of his career. After the game Balc had 20 career goals and 33 assists at Ohio State. With two points Thursday, he moved into third place on the Ohio State all time points list with 73.
 
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In their semifinal game Ohio State would take on three seed Northwestern, the Buckeyes came into this game looking for revenge against the team that gave them their only bad loss of the year. Both teams played each other tight, having played each other once both teams knew the others strengths and countered them properly. Casey Latchem once again showed why he will be missed next year, keeping Northwestern out of Ohio State’s goal with six brilliant saves Latchem made the victory possible. In a banner year for the Bucks Latchem tied yet another record with eleven shutouts in a single season. Same story different half, on a play that started with a simple buildup by Roger Espinoza on the left side turned into another Xavier Balc game winner when Andrew Magill gave him a chance to strike it with a solid look at the net. After Ohio State went on top they had to weather the storm of a potent Northwestern attack. Even with the loss and Northwestern’s late season slide the should still easily make the tournament, the Big Ten is likely to be represented by four teams, Ohio State, Indiana, Michigan State, and Northwestern with Michigan not making the cut.

Indiana won their side of the bracket setting up a rematch from last year, Ohio State hosted the last Big Ten tournament. Seeded number two they, like this year found their way into the championship game. Indiana ended Ohio State’s season last year with a 1-0 victory in the O. Ohio State went on an impressive late season run and did well in the Big Ten tournament but were passed over by the selection committee once it was time to seed the tournament.
 
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Going into the championship game history was not on Ohio State’s side. The Buckeyes had faced the Hoosiers five times in the Big Ten tournament and had only been able to pull out one win. All of the games had been decides by one goal except for a 3-0 beating the Bucks took at the hand of Indiana. Even so Ohio State had to feel confident after going toe to toe with the Big Ten power in Bloomington, where they held the Hoosiers to a 0-0 tie.

This game would go much the same way the first did. Neither team could get the upper hand and both were lucky the other didn’t take advantage of their opportunities. The game was hard fought through two overtimes but due to a strong defensive performance, strong goal tending, and blown chances the game went to penalty kicks on a 0-0 tie.

Xavier Balc took Ohio State’s first PK to tie the game at one all, next up the usually sure-footed Roger Espinoza stepped to the line to tie the game again, but shot wide of the goal. Casey Latchem now needed to step up for the Buckeyes, he answered the call on the next PK when he stopped the ball clear of the goal and gave Ohio State a chance. Danny Irizarry tied the game followed by goals from Tim Gabel and Eric Brunner each to answer an Indiana goal. With each team having taken five shots each the PKs continued in sudden death. Latchem blocked the first PK taken by Indiana setting up the win for Ohio State, but Patrick Roan could not capitalize when the Indiana keeper blocked his shot. This was Casey Latchem’s day and he would not be denied saving his third PK and giving Ohio State another chance to win. Doug Verhoff put his shot in the back of the net to finish the Hoosiers.

Ohio State now has an automatic bid to the NCAA, they would not give the selection committee the opportunity to denied them again. They now must wait until next Monday to find out where they will be seeded for the tournament.
 
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Nice job with the updates Emperor Brutus!

Ohio State earned the 5 seed in this year's tournament. They will host the winner of Duke-Louisville (game played on 11/23) on 11/28. Here is the tournament bracket:

Men's Soccer Brackets - NCAA Sports.com

Other Big Ten teams in the tournament include:
Indiana (4 seed)
Northwestern (9 seed)
Michigan State

If Ohio State and Indiana win their first two games they will meet up in the quarterfinals. Michigan State is on the other side of the bracket.
 
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We are definitely in the hardest region, no love for the Big Ten putting the two best Big Ten teams in the same region. I believe we will host Duke, they will likely play inspired ball attempting to send their coach off on a high note. Portland Washington is a real toss up, both are competitive teams, I’m looking for Portland to be the victor in this one and then top UCSB before they face us. If we make it that far we are likely to see Indiana again to end the region.

I think the Spartans will be able to top Oakland in their first game, and I think they’ve got a chance against the Domers after that. If they make it past that game I don’t think they can handle Santa Clara or UCLA, at best their run ends there. It’s the second hardest bracket and I just don’t see them making that much noise for the Big Ten in it.

Even though it’s below the above region in terms of power Connecticut’s Region is a killer because the teams are so evenly matched. Anyone could come out of this region. I think the winner of UC Davis/Cal vs. V Tech will take their side of the region and Connecticut should be just strong enough to win their side of it. Right now I’m leaning toward V-Tech, but they could go down in their first game, wild region this year.

B.C. didn’t deserve to be the 1 seed, but that’s the way it goes. Being in the easiest region might be the only thing that will save them, their top midfielder went down on Sunday, if he can’t go they won’t go either. If B.C. can’t take their region I’m going to bet on the winner of the Northwestern vs. St. Louis game to take this one down.

I’m predicting the national champion will come from the Indiana or Wake Forest regions.
 
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bkochmc;1001156; said:
Other Big Ten teams in the tournament include:
Indiana (4 seed)
Michigan State
Click to expand...
Northwestern as well, the Big Ten continues to improve overall. It?s not out of the realm of possibility that these teams all make it back next year with either Michigan or Penn State in the fold. It would really help if a Big Ten team besides Indiana could step up and win it all, it?d be nice if we could pull it off.
 
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Emperor Brutus;1001406; said:
Northwestern as well, the Big Ten continues to improve overall. It?s not out of the realm of possibility that these teams all make it back next year with either Michigan or Penn State in the fold. It would really help if a Big Ten team besides Indiana could step up and win it all, it?d be nice if we could pull it off.
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Ah... I didn't see that NW was seeded. Thanks for the correction.
 
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Dispatch

Men's socccer: Scioto grad excels for OSU
Brunner is considered one of the top players in the country
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 3:03 AM
By Mike Price


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Size. Speed. Smarts. Self-control.
You name it, Eric Brunner has it all as one of college soccer's best players.
A Dublin Scioto graduate, the 165-pound Brunner stands a lanky 6 feet 4 as he directs the defense for the Ohio State men's soccer team as a right central defender.
In August, Brunner was the first OSU player to be named to the Hermann Trophy preseason watch list. His play has kept him in the running for the Hermann, awarded to college soccer's top player.

Continued......
Click to expand...
 
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