Badgers Fall in OT to Buckeyes, 1-0
September 27, 2002 | Men's Soccer
Opening the Big Ten season on the road at Ohio State, the Wisconsin men's soccer team lost 1-0 in overtime after keeping pace with the Buckeyes throughout two regulation periods. OSU's Jason Ryan secured the overtime win at the 98th minute off a goal scored from 20 yards out to end the game.
'It was a really disappointing and frustrating loss, ' Wisconsin head coach Jeff Rohrman said. 'We didn't compete as long and as well as we have in games earlier this season, but we can't dwell on this game.
"We're going to learn from it. We've shown great mental strength in bouncing back from our other losses (to Valparaiso and UW-Green Bay) and we can do it again.'
During the first period, Wisconsin and Ohio State played evenly with the Badgers posting four shots to the Buckeyes' three. Wisconsin's John McGrady and Erol Goknur both utilized the Badgers' team play to create some dangerous chances for Wisconsin, including a left-footed shot on goal by Goknur, but OSU keeper Chad Brown pulled down the ball for his only save of the game.
Following the halftime break, OSU took control in the second period outshooting UW 7-2 with several long shots from 25 yards out. Wisconsin netminder Eric Hanson remained solid in net stopping all of the Buckeyes' shooting opportunities to bring the game into a sudden-death overtime period. At 98:46, OSU forward Justin Cook sent the ball to teammate Ryan for the game-winning goal. Overall, Wisconsin keeper Hanson collected five saves for the Badgers, while Ohio State's Brown posted one save.
The Badgers, now 6-3 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten, travel to Cincinnati to play Xavier University Sunday, Sept. 29 at noon. The Musketeers, now 4-3 overall, most recently shutout Bowling Green 4-0. Wisconsin last played Xavier in 1997 and, in only two games ever against the Musketeers, leads the series 1-0-1.
