No. 18 Buckeyes Win First Women's Game in 'Shoe
from press release
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Alayna Markwordt tallied seven
points, while Mary Kate Facchina posted a game-high four goals in
No. 18 Ohio State's rout of Robert Morris, 16-2, Friday afternoon
in the first women's lacrosse game played in Ohio Stadium. The
Buckeyes improve to 3-0 on the season for the first time since
2002, while the Colonials drop to 1-1.
"This was an exciting day for our program," Alexis Venechanos, Ohio
State head coach, said of playing in the stadium. "I think some of
the girls got maybe a little too excited; we weren't the sharpest
out of the gate but I thought we did a better job of reading their
defenses and getting better shots in the second five minutes of the
first half. We had a lot of new faces step up and score some goals
and I thought the defenses - all the way from our ride to the low D
- were inspiring and that is something we are going to need."
Seven Buckeyes found the back of the net, paced by Facchina's four
and three apiece by Markwordt and Gabby Capuzzi. With the
seven-point performance, Markwordt moved to within one of tying
Ohio State's all-time point-scoring record of 243 set by Kelly
Haggerty in 2007-10. The senior captain broke the goal-scoring
record last weekend and increased her total to 147, besting the
previous mark of 143. Defensively, the Buckeyes held Robert Morris
scoreless for nearly 43 minutes of game action before surrendering
a score at 17:17 in the second half. The two goals allowed are the
fewest for an OSU opponent since Robert Morris visited Columbus
during the 2008 season and lost 17-2.
Tori DeScenza, the ALC and WomensLax.com Rookie of the Week, did
not allow a goal in her 30 minutes of play and came up with two
saves and a groundball. Ohio State forced 15 of the Colonials' 21
turnovers, with Kirsten Donahue causing a game-high four.
With two apiece, Markwordt and Capuzzi teamed up to give Ohio State
a 4-0 lead just over 10 minutes into the game before Hallie
Keselman added her first of two and Facchina took over for the next
several minutes. The freshman from Glenwood, Md., scored
three-consecutive goals in a six-minute span, the first off a
free-position shot and the next two off Markwordt assists, to give
the Buckeyes an 8-0 advantage with 2:47 left in the opening half.
After two more free-position goals, of which the Buckeyes were
5-of-6 for the game, the team headed into halftime up 10-0.
Markwordt kept things going in the second half, scoring 1:25 into
the period and assisting on Facchina's fourth and final goal of the
day at 24:46. Keselman notched her second before the Colonials put
themselves on the board at 17:17. Erin Mossop had her free-position
shot stopped by Caitlin Hester, but collected her own rebound and
scored unassisted for her first career goal. The Buckeyes answered
with a three-goal run, bookmarked by Jennifer Porretto and Kelly
Becker before the Colonials added one more with three seconds
remaining on the game clock.
The Buckeyes finished with a 33-8 advantage in shots and a 15-2
margin in draw controls. Ohio State was forced to play a player
down for two minutes on three occasions, but did not allow a goal
during either stretch. The defense has successfully killed all five
player-down situations this season.
The Buckeyes relished in the opportunity to play in Ohio Stadium
and look forward to at least two more chances this season, with a
game scheduled there Sunday and again next Saturday as part of a
doubleheader with the men's lacrosse team.
"This school has so much tradition, history and pride," Venechanos
said. "We talked about that before the game and again in the locker
room. Just to be part of this experience in a place they see once a
week in the Fall is really special. We talked about being in the
moment and starting a new tradition and leaving our mark here. I
think we definitely accomplished that."
The Buckeyes return to action at 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Louisville in
Ohio Stadium. The Cardinals will open their 2012 season against
Ohio State picked seventh in the Big East preseason coaches' poll
after going 10-7 last year, with a 3-5 mark in league play.
Louisville returns 13 letterwinners from a year ago, including
IWLCA all-region selections Katie Oliverio and Monica Negron. In
2011, Oliverio ranked second nationally in assists per game (2.53),
fifth in assists (43) and 30th in points per game (3.76), while
Negron was 23rd in ground balls per game (2.71) and tied for 48th
in caused turnovers (48th).
Admission to the game is free. Fans are asked to enter through Gate
7 located on the west side of the stadium. Parking in the stadium
lots will be free and open to the public.
