Michigan
7-6-4, 3-5-2
Ohio State
9-6-2, 5-4-1
Wolverines Suffer Setback at Ohio State in Regular-Season Finale
10/22/2023 3:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer
» U-M's lone goal came from Kacey Lawrence, who netted her first goal of the season in the 55th minute.
» The result eliminates U-M from advancing to the Big Ten Tournament. U-M's postseason hopes rest with the NCAA Tournament selection show on Monday, Nov. 6.
» Goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski made eight saves, one shy of her season high.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team fell by a 4-1 count in the final match of the regular season against Ohio State on Sunday (Oct. 22) at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
The result leaves U-M on the outside looking in on the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines maintain an at-large selection chance in the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced Monday, Nov. 6.
Michigan (7-6-4, 3-5-2 Big Ten) began the match on the right foot. In the 12th minute, sophomore Kali Burrell had a chance with her left foot from 8 yards out with a defender draped on her, but the near-post shot was saved.
U-M had a trio of shots in the middle portion of the half, with senior Sammi Woods, sophomore Jenna Lang and junior Avery Kalitta each having attempts, with Kalitta's opportunity on the frame but was saved by OSU goalkeeper Molly Pritchard.
The top chance of the half for either side came in the 30th minute, as senior Kacey Lawrence played a low service in the middle of the park to freshman Gabrielle Prych. She timed her run perfectly to get past a pair of Buckeyes defenders for a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper, but Pritchard came off her line to cut off the angle to stop the shot from 16 yards out.
However, it was Ohio State (9-6-2, 5-4-1 Big Ten) that notched the first goal of the match against the run of play in the 34th minute. OSU's Emma Sears had a quality chance just inside the box, with senior goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski doing well to stop the initial shot; however, the rebound was collected and slotted home as U-M trailed 1-0.
Following a try from freshman Lilley Bosley from 20 yards out, the Buckeyes added another goal on an individual effort from Ella Giannola three minutes before the half to run the count to 2-0.
The Wolverines closed the half with yet another prime chance, as Kalitta played a ball into the box that found a darting sophomore Taylor Brennan, but the close-range chance was parried out to safety with minutes to play in the opening half.
Michigan cut the lead in half in the 55th minute, when Kalitta dispossessed a Buckeye defender deep in the OSU defending third. She then fed Lawrence, who converted her first goal of the season with a lower-left finish to cut the deficit in half at 2-1 with nearly 35 minutes to play.
The 72nd minute nearly proved fruitful for U-M, as right-back Sarah Bridenstine beat a defender and had a little flick of a shot at the top of the six that squeaked high.
The Maize and Blue pushed hard for an equalizer, but the match was put out of reach in the 75th minute when Amanda Schueter converted to run the count to 3-1 Buckeyes, and later iced the match in the 88th minute with another score.
Tweet of the Match
55' | ????
— Michigan Women's Soccer (@umichwsoccer) October 22, 2023
Kacey Lawrence gets us on the board. Kalitta does the work winning the ball back!
1:2
#GoBlue?? | #OurWay pic.twitter.com/Hlk1K6uywP
Team Stats
Emma Sears (3)
GOAL by OSU Sears, Emma.
33:04
Ella Giannola (4)
Assisted By: Amanda Schlueter
GOAL by OSU Giannola, Ella Assist by Schlueter, Amanda.
41:03
Kacey Lawrence (1)
Assisted By: Avery Kalitta
GOAL by MICH Lawrence, Kacey Assist by Kalitta, Avery.
54:30
Amanda Schlueter (5)
Assisted By: Emma Sears
GOAL by OSU Schlueter, Amanda Assist by Sears, Emma.
74:45
Kailyn Dudukovich (11)
Assisted By: Amanda Schlueter
GOAL by OSU Dudukovich, Kailyn Assist by Schlueter, Amanda.
88:09
