Abigail Miner/The LanternOhio State freshman forward Paige Maxwell kicks the ball during the Oct. 19 game against Minnesota. Maxwell and the OSU women’s soccer team lost 2-1 on Friday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.The goal was an own goal by the Buckeyes and turned out to be the winning goal.
“The girl shot the ball and it was kind of going out, but then someone turned and it deflected off her shin and the wind helped carry it,” freshman forward Paige Maxwell said. “It was a fluke goal and it stinks.”
That goal was scored in the 24th minute and the Buckeyes could not get a goal to tie the game.
“We had our opportunities,” Maxwell said. “We had our chances and we lost the game and that’s it. That’s all I thought about. We just lost the game.”
Maxwell scored the only goal for the Buckeyes. The goal was her eighth of the season, which is the team-high.
“It was on a corner kick,” Maxwell said of her goal. “There were a lot of us in the box trying to fight for the ball. I went up and the ball got deflected and there were a few girls on my back and I put my foot in the air and the ball sailed in the back of the net.”
The Buckeyes’ loss against the Boilermakers (12-7-3, 5-3-2) was the second this year against the team. The Bucks lost 3-0 on Oct. 24 in West Lafayette, Ind.
No NCAA Tournament
The Buckeyes (8-10-2, 5-5-0) failed to reach the Big Dance this year, following last year’s play in the tournament after a 12-9-1 record.
Maxwell expected big things from the team in the Big Ten Tournament, but that did not happen.
“It was surprising that we didn’t make it that far,” Maxwell said. “I had a ton of faith in us to go in the Big Ten. My plans were to win the Big Ten and go to the NCAA and rock that.” Maxwell is disappointed the team’s season ended without making it to the Big Ten Tournament.
“None of us wanted the season to end,” Maxwell said. “It just happened way too fast and everyone did their job. It was unlucky. Everyone worked so hard and it’s so sad to think that the season is over.”
All-freshman team
For the fifth year in a row, a Buckeye has been selected on the 2008 Big Ten Conference all-freshman team. Maxwell, from Medina, Ohio, was the Buckeye who was selected.
“It surprised me,” Maxwell said. “I was really happy and I was really honored, too, that the coaches did nominate me. I never thought anything like that would happen.”
Maxwell was the third freshman in the Big Ten in points, with 18, and the third freshman in the Big Ten for goals, with eight.
Will Toman can be reached at [email protected].
