Ohio State men's soccer wins second straight, tops Cleveland State 1-0

The Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland State Vikings men's soccer teams face off at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Oct. 27. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Players, coaches, and referees prepare to take the field for a men's soccer match between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland State Vikings Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The 25th match between the two programs ended in a 1-0 Buckeye victory.

The starting lineup for the Ohio State men's soccer team meets in a huddle before the opening kickoff against Cleveland State at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Oct. 27. The Buckeyes won the match, 1-0.

Senior goalkeeper Alex Ivanov of the Ohio State men's soccer team hangs on the crossbar before the team's opening kickoff against Cleveland State at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Oct. 27. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Freshman forward, Danny Jensen (9), awaits a throw in during Ohio State's match against Cleveland State Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Jensen scored the only goal of the match, propelling the Buckeyes to a 1-0 victory. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Freshman forward, Danny Jensen (9), prepares for a shot during Ohio State's match against Cleveland State Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Senior goalkeeper Alex Ivanov throws the ball during a match against Cleveland State at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Oct. 27. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Senior defenseman and captain, Sage Gardner (5), heads the ball during the first half of the team's match against Cleveland State Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Ohio State junior midfielder, Yianni Sarris (6), dribbles the ball as sophomore midfielder and teammate, Zach Mason (7), looks on during a match against Celeveland State at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Oct. 27. The Buckeyes won the match, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Freshman midfielder, Christian Soldat (13), attempts to win the ball during a match against Cleveland State Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Ohio State junior forward, Kenny Cunningham (17), helps up freshman forward, Danny Jensen (9), after Jensen missed a shot on goal during the first half of a match against Cleveland State at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Oct. 27. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Ohio State freshman midfielder, Christian Soldat (13), takes a corner kick during the first half of a match against Cleveland State at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Oct. 27. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Ohio State sophomore midfielder, Zach Mason (7), possesses the ball during a match against Cleveland State Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Ohio State senior goalkeeper Alex Ivanov makes a save as teammates Yianni Sarris (6) and Ryan Ivancic (23) look on during a match against Cleveland State Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Members of the Ohio State men's soccer team sit on the bench during a match against Cleveland State Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The Buckeyes won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Rachel Deken (4) watches a men's soccer match between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland State Vikings from the bleachers at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Oct. 27. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

The Ohio State men's soccer coaching staff spends time in discussion during halftime of their match against Cleveland State at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Oct. 27. OSU head coach, John Bluem (center) led the Buckeyes to a 1-0 victory. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Ohio State freshman midfielder, Christian Soldat (13), struggles against a defender during the second half of a men's soccer match against Cleveland State at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Oct. 27. The Buckeyes won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Ohio State junior forward, Kenny Cunningham (17), jumps up to head the ball during the second half of a match against Cleveland State at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Oct. 27. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Ohio State junior midfielder, Max Moller (29), dribbles the ball downfield during the second half of a match against Cleveland State Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The Buckeyes won the match, 1-0.

Ohio State men's soccer reserve players warm up on the sideline during the second half of a match against Cleveland State Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The Buckeyes won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Ohio State junior midfielder, Ryan Ivancic (23), dribbles the ball past a defender during a match against Cleveland State Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Ohio State men's soccer freshman forward, Danny Jensen (9), heads the ball into the back of the net during a match against Cleveland State Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. OSU won, 1-0. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Ohio State men's soccer players celebrate following a goal scored by the Buckeyes during the second half of the match Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The goal came from the head of OSU freshman forward, Danny Jensen (9). Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

Ohio State senior goalkeeper Alex Ivanov (right) hugs his mother, Donna Ivanov, of Strongsville, Ohio following a 1-0 Buckeye victory over Cleveland State Oct. 27 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Credit: Mark Batke / Lantern photographer

After going nine straight matches without a win, seven of which were coincidentally without a goal, the Ohio State men’s soccer team (4-6-5, 0-2-2) is now riding a two-game winning streak following a 1-0 victory over the Cleveland State Vikings.

With a second half goal by freshman forward Danny Jensen, OSU now has five goals in its last two matches and has won back-to-back matches for the first time all season.

Buckeye coach John Bluem said despite a poor first half, the team stuck with it and earned a big win Sunday.

“We made the one change putting Jensen up top and bringing (junior forward) Kenny Cunningham into midfield and Danny ended up getting the goal,” he said. “A little different look there and something as little as that maybe changed it for us. They had a much more difficult time dealing with Danny than they did Kenny and that’s just how games go sometimes.”

Bluem said the team’s goal moving forward is to try and be at its best heading into the Big Ten Tournament.

“We’re experimenting. We’ve been forced to change our defense around a little bit and that’s worked out all right … and we’re finding that we can score goals,” he said. “(We have) a little bit of confidence, we now have a win streak for the first time this season, so I’m just happy for the guys,”

Jensen’s goal came when he connected with junior midfielder Ryan Ivancic’s cross to break the deadlock.

Jensen, who scored his second goal of the season, said after the match the shot was not a difficult one thanks to the help of his teammates.

“Basically, I saw the ball going into an area where there’s obviously going to be a cross,” he said. “Ivancic happened to put a ball right on my head and it was a pretty easy goal. I was inside the six yard box and you just have to put those away to win the game, I’m happy it happened. I’m happy it helped our team win, we needed that win, and overall a great play on that.”

Sunday‘s match was almost dead-even as OSU outshot CSU 9-8, while the Vikings held the advantage in corners 5-4.

Redshirt-junior goalkeeper Alex Ivanov earned his seventh shutout in 2013 and recorded three saves on the day, putting his season total at 90.

Sophomore midfielder Zach Mason said the consecutive wins were a “long time coming” and the team will be able to use them as motivation to finish the season strong.

“We’re just going to try and keep the winning streak going all the way through the postseason and hopefully get a win in the Big Ten tournament, right out of the gate,” Mason said.

He also mentioned that having the tournament at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium will be a big advantage and the Buckeyes plan to “defend it with (their) hearts.”

The Buckeyes have five days off until they are scheduled to resume Big Ten play when No. 13 Penn State travels to Columbus Saturday. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m.