GREENVILLE, N.C. – For the fourth time in the last five years, Santa Clara women's soccer is headed to the third round of the NCAA Tournament after a convincing 4-1 win over Ohio State Saturday.
The 11th-seeded Broncos (7-1) used their high-powered offense to take control of the second-round match early on and never looked back. Izzy D'Aquila, Kelsey Turnbow, Skylar Smith, and Makoto Nezu all scored with Keren Goor and Sally Menti both picking up two assists.
Despite not playing a match for four weeks due to COVID-19 cancellations, Santa Clara didn't show any rust and outshot the Buckeyes 21-7 and held a 16-5 advantage in shots on target.
D'Aquila got the scoring going in the sixth minute. Ohio State (8-3-3) keeper Bailey Kolinski, who was in due to an early injury to starter Maciah Lipsey, came off her line to get a ball and her dive knocked it to the side. Goor was right there and chipped a pass that Kolinski again got a piece of but the ball fell right to the feet of D'Aquila who knocked it home.
The Broncos, who will play No. 6-seeded Arkansas on Wednesday in the third round, extended the lead in the 25th minute off the foot of Turnbow. Menti sent a pass through the box to Turnbow on the right side and after a touch she finished low and inside the far post to make it 2-0.
Smith added a beautiful goal from outside the box that she hit perfectly and under the crossbar to make it 3-0 Santa Clara in the 53rd.
Minutes later Nezu scored off a set piece. Goor took a long free kick in the 56th that got to the end line and Nezu knocked it in the air and off the keeper for a 4-0 lead.
Ohio State got one back in the 61st on a nice shot from outside the box by Peyton McNamara that was placed just under the cross bar.
HIGHLIGHTS | Goals from Izzy D'Aquila, @KelseyTurnbow, @sky__smith and Makoto Nezu in today's 4-1 victory over Ohio State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament!#StampedeTogether #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/ddzb5omjsi
— Santa Clara Women's Soccer (@SCUWomensSoccer) May 2, 2021
NOTES
- Santa Clara is now 1-0 all-time against Ohio State.
- This was the 55th NCAA Tournament win for the Broncos.
- Eighteen different players saw minutes for Santa Clara.
- A red card was issued to Ohio State's Kayla Fischer in the 33rd minute.
- Santa Clara is one of seven teams to have reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament in four of the last five years and the only non-Power 5 team.
��️ Hear from head coach @SCUJerrySmith after the #SCUBroncos dominating 4-1 win over @OhioStateWSOC in the second round of the @NCAASoccer Tournament.#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/hfHMoJhUZy
— Santa Clara Women's Soccer (@SCUWomensSoccer) May 2, 2021
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The Broncos play sixth-seeded Arkansas Wednesday at 6 p.m. Pacific at WestMed Field in Cary, N.C.
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