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NCAA Featured Game: Ohio State tops Wisconsin 1-0

Tiffany Cameron’s 48th minute goal was enough to lift the Ohio State women’s soccer team to a 1-0 road victory over Wisconsin on Sunday. Ohio State 8-4-1 (3-1-1 Big Ten) with the victory, while the slip up dropped the Badgers to 7-4-2 (2-1-2 Big Ten).

Ohio State created plenty of chances throughout the first half but the Buckeyes had to wait until three minutes into the second half to finally get on the score sheet. The goal came as a result of a carefully executed set piece. Defender Liz Sullivan played a short corner to Cameron on the endline, who returned the ball to Sullivan for a cross. Kristen Niederhaus redirected the back post ball across the six yard box and Cameron volleyed it into the net with her right foot. The goal marks the third-straight game in which Cameron has scored. She now has five goals this season.

Cameron cam alive in the second half, but much of Ohio State’s first half pressure came from Kendyl Reed on the right flank.

After a frantic, end-to-end start to the match from both teams, Ohio State settled the match down and looked to Reed often on the right flank. In the 14th minute, Reed whipped in a cross to Lauren Granberg, but her header went right at Wisconsin goalkeeper Michele Dalton. One minute later, Reed whipped in an even more dangerous cross – low and inside the six yard box – to forward Paige Maxwell, whose toe poke was saved by Dalton from point-blank range.

Junior midfielder Monica Lam-Feist helped settle the game for Wisconsin midway through the half and the Badgers had their best opportunity in the 32nd minute through Alev Kelter. Lauren Cochlin whipped in a cross, but Kelter’s 15 yard volley went just wide.

Wisconsin struggled to create many chances throughout the match. Freshman forward Cara Walls, the team’s leading scorer with six goals and one assist this season, was kept in check throughout the game and Laurie Nosbusch, who now sits fifth on the all-time Badgers scoring list with 27 goals, failed to convert her chances.

Nosbusch had two great opportunities just four minutes apart in the second half to find the equalizer for Wisconsin.

First game her diving header in the 59th minute that went straight to OSU goalkeeper Katie Baumgardner after defender Lindsey Johnson worked hard to whip in a cross from the right flank. Then, in the 64th minute, Nosbusch struck a shot high over the crossbar from 14 yards out.

Johnson gave Wisconsin options going forward on the right flank and did well defensively, although Ohio State primarily pushed the game on the opposite flank.

Maxwell was one of Ohio State’s best players on the field on Sunday. She consistently found herself in dangerous positions and her back-to-goal hold-up play helped the Buckeyes dictate the pace of the match. Maxwell did everything but score on the day.

The win was huge for the Buckeyes, who aim to make a return trip to the College Cup after advancing to the national semifinals in 2010 (losing 1-0 to eventual champion Notre Dame). Next up for Ohio State is a road trip to Purdue on Sunday. Wisconsin will try to turn things around on the road against Nebraska on Friday.

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