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Ohio Northern University

Women's Soccer closes season following tough 1-0 loss to Ithaca (N.Y.) in NCAA Tournament second round

Women's Soccer closes season following tough 1-0 loss to Ithaca (N.Y.) in NCAA Tournament second round
Box Score
November 13, 2011

By: Monique Bowman

ADA - On a windy Sunday afternoon, the Ohio Northern women's soccer team's season came to an end, falling 1-0 to Ithaca (N.Y.) in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Northern finishes 2011 with a 16-3-2 overall record. The Bombers improve to 13-3-3 overall and will move on to the Sweet 16 against the winner of Trinity (Texas) and Hardin-Simmons (Texas).

"It's one of those days you hate soccer. We had great looks but just couldn't score," head coach Mark Batman commented. "But we played well today and had a great season overall."

Ohio Northern attacked persistently during the first half, taking 11 shots but missing on capitalizing those opportunities.

In the 26th minute, senior Alyssa Merrick took aim at the goal on a free kick but Bomber goalie Becca Salant made a leaping save.

With time winding down in the first, junior Tara Tokar and sophomore Sami Atkinson both took dead on shots but no goal could be recorded.

Tokar's attempt came from just outside the penalty box and hit the crossbar, while Atkinson's was just in front of the goal hitting the right post.

The Bombers came out blazing in the second half, getting four shots off (two of which on goal) within the first 10 minutes of the half.

It was in the 57th minute when Ithaca's Rachael Palladino took a Ellyn Grant-Keane pass, dribbled down the left side of the field past an ONU defender for the goal.

Midway through the second half, Atkinson had the ball dead center of the goal but couldn't get a shot off due to Bomber defenders swarming. Minutes later, freshman Kristina Klusek crossed the ball from the left side to center but Tokar wasn't able to connect the header for a goal.

Northern finished the game with the shot advantage at 15-8, with an 8-6 shots on-goal lead.

Sallant earned the win for Ithaca and recorded eight saves, while ONU keeper Erin Waehner finished with five saves.

"Despite this tough loss, I'm very happy for our seniors. Four OAC tournament appearances, along with two appearances in the NCAA tournament; that's something to be proud of."