Women's soccer: Collison finishes career tied for goals record

Lisa Collison entered this season just eight goals from breaking the Ohio State women's soccer career goals record.

The senior forward ended up scoring seven goals this season and tied the record at 35 with Lisa Grubb, who played from 2001-2006.

"It would have been nice to surpass," Collison said. "But tying it is still a great feeling."

Of the 35 goals, Collison recalls her favorite.

"I have to say the overtime goal against Illinois last season," Collison said. "That was a pretty big one and probably the most emotional one as far as the team as a whole."

Abigail Miner/The Lantern Ohio State senior forward Lisa Collison sends the ball soaring in front of an opponent during the Oct. 19 game against Minnesota. Collison tied the Ohio State record for career goals with 35. Though freshman forward Paige Maxwell has been with Collison for only one year, she realizes how tough it was for Collison to try to break the record.

"It's stressful," Maxwell said. "I would never want that stress on me because it's tough. She's such a great soccer player and even though she didn't break it, she did a wonderful job."

Collison's most goals in one season came in her freshman year when she scored 13 goals, which ties the OSU single season record.

"Coming in here as a little freshman, you come and you try to look up to those who are above you," Collison said. "That's exactly what I did. That's credit to my teammates. They worked to give me those balls and as a forward, that's my role and duty on the team is to score goals and fortunately I was able to capitalize on those."

During Collison's four years, the Buckeyes went 37-37-6 overall and 18-22-0 in the Big Ten. The biggest game for Collison was the last regular season game this year, when the Buckeyes defeated Penn State 1-0 in Happy Valley. That was Penn State's first Big Ten home loss since 1995, a stretch of 59-0-2.

"We went in there and executed our plan and we came out on top," Collison said. "That was definitely one of my highlights of my career."

When considering universities, Collison, of Niagara Falls, Ontario, knew she had some options, but something at Ohio State made her feel at home.

"At first, it was never something that jumped out at me," Collison said. "But I came here on a visit and there was something that stuck with me. I went to my next school and I tried to keep an open mind. I needed to go somewhere to have something to compare it to. There's something about here and it completes me. But I went on my other visit and there was nothing. All I could think about was Ohio State and becoming a Buckeye."

After visiting other schools, she decided to make that final call to the OSU.

"When I made that final phone call to the coaching staff, it was something that fulfilled me," Collison said. "I knew it was right and since I've been here, I've never ever looked back. I've never wished that I would be anywhere else. I'm proud to say that I'm a Buckeye, and that's the bottom line."

Some of the other schools Collison visited were the University of Florida, UCLA and the University of North Carolina.

Days after the team's last game against Purdue in the Big Ten tournament, it hit Collison that her career at OSU was over.

"It's definitely been a little emotional," Collison said. "I can leave with a smile and my head held high and knowing that I've grown as a person and a player."

Collison says she will always remember the first time she put on the OSU jersey: the Buckeyes defeated Kent State University 2-1 after Collison scored the first goal.

"I kind of stood there like a little lost freshman and I was like, 'Wow, I am standing on the field right now and I am officially a Buckeye'," Collison said. "Playing that first game and scoring that first goal is really not a feeling that I could have ever had [again]. It's unbelievable and that's definitely something that's going to carry me with the rest of my life and it's something I'm very honored and proud of."

After Collison completes her human development degree, she wants to stay in America.

"I definitely want to get a job here," Collison said. "I'm in for social work right now, but I'm keeping my options open and hopefully something will fall my way. As far as soccer goes, I would love to continue to play. We have a new coach coming up now for the Canadian national team and I would love to be part of that again and hopefully train for the next Olympics."

Will Toman can be reached at toman.7@osu.edu.