Around The Oval

Hegngi plays with his head

Ohio State operates the NCAA's second-largest athletic department. Eleven Warriors is committed to keeping you informed of what's happening with those sports that make Ohio State athletics more than just football and basketball. Around the Oval will be your weekly update on these teams.

Welcome back to another week “Around the Oval”. Football may be back, but it’s certainly not the only sport in full-swing in Columbus.

KICKING AND SCREAMING

The Ohio State men’s and women’s soccer programs, ranked 23rd and 18th, respectively, had two very different tasks before them as they entered the second week of their seasons. The men, coming off of a disappointing opening week that saw them play American University to a draw and lose to Siena, had to get back on the winning track. The women were faced with the ultimate early season litmus test, traveling to #25 West Virginia, and then hosting the top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.

Playing in the sixth annual Bert and Iris Wolstein Classic at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, the Buckeye fellas kicked off against Florida International Friday night, and like they had in their first two contests of the year, found themselves trailing 1-0 in the first half of play after FIU’s Jahbari Willis scored at 23:30.  Ohio State, who out-shot FIU 11-2 in the first half, leveled the game just nine minutes later as Sebastian Rivas found pay-dirt on a header that ricocheted off the crossbar. Parnell Hegngi got the Buckeyes back on the board again only six minutes later, and they never looked back. The Golden Panthers worked hard in the second half but to no avail, the Buckeyes added a third goal late for good measure, and wrapped up their first win of the season, 3-1.  According to coach John Bluem, the Buckeyes were not just facing FIU as they kicked off Friday night, but were playing against their own expectations, as well:

"We had some self doubting going on after the first weekend at State College when we didn't play up to our potential. I think the team you saw tonight is more characteristic of the team were going to be this year."

Hoping to build momentum from Friday's victory, the Buckeyes were set to face Stetson University on Sunday afternoon in the final of the weekend tournament.  The Hatters (yes, that is the nickname of Stetson University) earned their spot in Sunday's final by upending Penn State 3-2 in Friday's early game.  

The game was delayed nearly 90 minutes due to severe storms in the Columbus area, but when it finally started the rain-soaked pitch did nothing to slow down either team's offense attack.

As they have in every game of this young season, the Buckeyes gave their opponent a one goal lead, as Stetson's Raffaele Centofanti (what an amazing soccer name) put the Hatters on the board at 30:17. Ohio State tied the match eight minutes later on a Chris Hegngi penalty kick, and took the lead a mere four minutes after that when Rivas found the goal for the second straight match.  The Buckeyes took the one goal lead into the break, but the Hatters came out mad in the second half, culminating in JJ Bostic's equalizer at 60:11.  Once more, the Buckeyes struck back quickly, as Ben Killian found the goal at the 65 minute mark.  Parnell Hegngi got on the board again for the Buckeyes in the 84th minute, and the Buckeyes were able to run the clock down on a 4-2 win to take the trophy home.  Four Buckeyes were named to the All-Tournament team. Sebastian Rivas and Parnell Hegngi, who each scored two goals, were joined by David Tiemstra and Adam Gorksi. 

Thanks to his solid play over the weekend, Parnell Hegngi was also honored as Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week, the first Buckeye to earn the accolade since Austin McAnena did so October 4th, 2010.

The Buckeye women, 3-1 entering the week, traveled to Morgantown to take on #25 West Virignia is a battle of nationally ranked programs.  Ohio State, who had lost its only other road contest of the year, dropping 1-0 to Missouri a week earlier, played even with the Moutaineers for 72 minutes before freshman Chelsy Swackhamer broke the tie, sliding one past WVU netminder Sara Keane.  Swackhamer's goal, her second of the season, was all the Buckeyes would need, but Tiffany Cameron added one for good measure just before the 90 minute mark, securing the 2-0 Buckeye win.  Katie Baumgardner recorded four saves en route to her third win of year in net.

On Sunday, the Buckeyes faced the #1 ranked Tar Heels of North Carolina in front of 2892 spectactors at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.  North Carolina pounded the Buckeyes' backline to the tune of 10 first half shots, finally breaking through with a goal at 34:21, with Amber Brooks scoring off of a free-kick.  Trailing 1-0 at intermission, the Buckeyes were unable to figure out the Heels defense, and despite the best efforts of Baumgardner, fell to the Tar Heels 3-0.  Buckeye coach Lori Walker was not discouraged however, seeing a lot of positives despite the final tally.

"There were so many positives to take away from this game; our team really battled," said Ohio State head coach Lori Walker. "They got two goals on set pieces and we really need to work on that. In this type of a game, when you're playing No. 1, it was more about our team and seeing what we were going to get out of it.

VOLLEYBALL HITS HAWAIIAN WALL

Last week, the Ohio State women's volleyball team was unbeatable, rolling over their competition in the Moutaineer Invitational in Morgantown on their way to a 4-0 season start.  

Well, that was last week.  This week, the Buckeyes traveled half-way around the world to Honolulu, Hawaii where they were joined by some of the nation's elite teams in the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic.  

EMILY DANKS PLAYED WELL

The Buckeyes would find themselves in a murderer's row of match-ups, squaring off against three nationally ranked teams in #10 Hawaii, #12 UCLA and #23 Long Beach State.

The Buckeyes started off slow (jet lag can do that to you) and trailed Hawaii 9-4 in the first set before they opened their eyes.  Despite the best efforts of junior Emily Danks, who led the Buckeyes with 14 match points, Ohio State was never able to get on top in the set, and fell 25-18 in the opener.  The second set began much more favorably for OSU, as they erupted to a 6-1 lead, but they were unable to hold their advantage, eventually falling 25-23 in set two.  Hawaii finished out the sweep in dominating fashion, 25-14, and the lady Buckeyes had suffered their first defeat of the season.  

Day two of the the tournament brought the Buckeyes and Bruins together in what would be an incredbily competitive and tight match. UCLA led big, 21-14 before a 6 point Buckeye run cut the deficit to 21-20, but the Buckeyes ran out of juice, and fell 25-21. After a 25-19 second set victory, the Bruins looked to close out the Buckeyes in set three, but the Poisonous Nuts were not deterred, scratching and clawing with the Bruin women in a hotly contested set that ended with the Buckeyes claiming a 25-23 set win. Ohio State played just as valiantly in the next set, but the Bruins were a shade better, closing out Ohio State 25-23 to win the match 3-1.

After a night out on the island Saturday, Ohio State was back at it Sunday, facing #23 Long Beach State to finish up their Hawaiian adventure.  Much like their match against UCLA, the Buckeyes played well, but not well enough, and dropped a 3-1 match against the 49ers, 25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 25-21.  Emily Danks once again led the way with 18 match points, and left Hawaii as the only Buckeye to be named to the All-Tournament team.

WIMMERS AND LOSERS

Alex Wimmers, the 21st pick in the 2010 MLB amateur draft and former Buckeye, threw his first professional no-hitter on Saturday as a member of the Fort Myers Miracles.  The second game of a double-header, the no-no will have an asterisk next to it since it was only 7 innings long, but it's still quite a feat for the second-year pro.  Wimmers faced the minimum 21 batters despite walking two.  On May 2, 2009, Wimmers threw the first ever nine-inning no-hitter in Ohio State history, striking out 14 while blanking Michigan.

We can't all be Wimmers

Currently regarded as the #10 prospect in the Minnesota Twins organization, struggled early this season, but it appears he's bouncing back.  How this no-hitter stacks up to his gem against UM?  Wimmers was asked about it following Saturday's game.

"The one I had in college, it was against Michigan, big rivalry there," he said. "I have to say the Ohio State game was the best one I have ever been a part of."

Wimmers finished his Buckeye career as one of the school's all-time best.  His career runs allowed (81), earned runs allowed (71), hits allowed (173), and strikeouts (273) all place in the top five of the Buckeye record books.

FIELD HOCKEY WINS TWO

Rounding out this week's AtO coverage, the 6th-ranked Buckeye field hockey team looked to bounce back from a rough opening week which saw losses at home to Duke, New Hampshire and Ohio; by heading south to Harrisonburg, VA where they faced the Richmond Spiders and the James Madison Dukes.  The Buckeyes escaped Virginia with back-to-back wins, beating Richmond 2-1 in a shoot-out as Paula Pastore-Pitarque sealed the win for the Buckeyes.  The Buckeyes finished the trip with a 2-0 win against the Dukes.  They will host Syracuse and Old Dominion this upcoming weekend in"The Buckeye Classic."