ANN ARBOR, Mich. — No. 3 Ohio State closed an unprecedented regular season Friday night, Oct. 30, with a commanding 3-1 victory over Michigan at U-M Soccer Stadium, according to Ohio State Athletics. The win was the Buckeyes’ ninth straight, tying the program record for consecutive victories set in 2004 and 2012.
The Big Ten champion Buckeyes finish the regular season 15-1-1 overall and 11-1-0 in conference play, according to Ohio State Athletics. With 33 points, Ohio State stands alone at the top of the Big Ten standings heading into the postseason.
Jadin Bonham led the attack with a first-half brace, Ohio State Athletics reported. Bonham opened the scoring in the 12th minute, latching onto a pass from Elle Britt and burying a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner for a 1-0 lead.
Bonham struck again in the 20th minute, finishing low into the bottom left corner off a feed from Amanda Schlueter to make it 2-0. Michigan answered a minute later, when Lilley Bosley scored to pull the hosts within 2-1, according to Ohio State Athletics.
Goalkeeper Peighton Northrup preserved the lead into halftime with key saves in the 40th and 45th minutes on attempts from Bosley and Brooklyn Marn, Ohio State Athletics reported. Northrup finished with three saves to record her 15th victory of the season.
Ohio State put the match away in the 61st minute. After a Michigan foul inside the box, Schlueter converted a penalty kick into the bottom right corner — her 16th goal of the season and the 43rd of her career, leaving her one goal behind the all-time program lead, according to Ohio State Athletics. Britt and Schlueter each added an assist in the win, played before a crowd of 1,700.
With the Big Ten regular-season championship secured, top-seeded Ohio State now turns to the Big Ten Tournament, scheduled Wednesday through Sunday next week. Game times and matchups will be released as announced, Ohio State Athletics said.
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA