Danny Irizarry converts fourth-career penalty kick; Geoff Marsh named tournament co-MVP

University Park, Pa. – With first-half goals from senior captains Danny Irizarry and Geoff Marsh, the 10th-ranked Ohio State men’s soccer team secured a 2-0 victory over No. 18 Tulsa Sunday at Jeffrey Field in University Park, Pa. With a win against Tulsa and a 1-1 tie vs. Bucknell Friday, the Buckeyes and the Bison each earn a share the Penn State Classic title after Bucknell defeated Penn State, 2-0, Sunday.

In addition, four Buckeyes were named to the all-tournament team, including Marsh, the classic's co-MVP. Senior tri-captain Tim Gabel, sophomore Matt Gold and goalkeeper Drew Czekanski joined Marsh on the all-tournament squad.

In their second game of the 2008 Penn State Classic, the Buckeyes earned their first win over the Hurricane, moving the all-time series to 1-2-0 in a game televised live by the Big Ten Network. On the season, Ohio State owns a 3-0-1 overall record while Tulsa, the reigning Conference USA champions move to 2-1-1.    

The Buckeyes played an aggressive first half, outshooting the Hurricane, 10-4. In its first attacking possession, junior forward Andrew Magill changed fields to Marsh on the far right side. The North Olmstead, Ohio, native quickly sent the ball into sophomore forward Konrad Warzycha who ripped a hard shot that Hurricane goalkeeper Tyrel Lacey nabbed at point blank range.

Just two minutes later, Ohio State was back on the attack with Marsh firing the ball in the bottom right corner of the Tulsa net five minutes into the game to put the Buckeyes up, 1-0. Working on the left side of the field, sophomore midfielder Sam Scales recorded the assist, locating an unmarked Marsh crashing toward the net on the far side.

Ohio State continued to pressure the Tulsa defense as Warzycha, a native of Dublin, Ohio, was tackled by Lacey in the penalty box, awarding the Buckeyes with a penalty kick in the 26th minute of play. With Irizarry on the ball, the senior midfielder sent the ball past the Hurricane goalkeeper into the bottom left corner of the net, converting his second PK of the 2008 season and giving Ohio State a 2-0 lead at halftime. 

After the break, Buckeye goalkeeper Czekanski went to work, recording four of his six saves in the second half. As a whole, the Ohio State defense played solidly with freshman Dave Tiemstra winning many one-on-one contests against Tulsa’s attackers. The Clarendon Hills, Ill., native stepped up in front of the goal as well, blocking a targeted shot from Hurricane forward Jeovahnni Sandez in the 84th minute.

Although outshooting Ohio State, 8-5, in the second half, Tulsa was unable to put a tally on the board.

In the match up, both the Buckeyes and Hurricane were awarded six corner kicks a piece. Ohio State recorded 15 fouls compared to Tulsa’s 13, but the Hurricane collected three yellow cards and a red card took midfielder Ashley McInnes out in the 78th minute.

Next weekend, Ohio State travels to the College of Charleston Nike Classics in Charleston, S.C. The Buckeyes open play at the tournament with a night game against the College of Charleston at 7:30 p.m. Friday before facing Furman at noon Sunday.

Postgame Notes – No. 10 Ohio State vs. No. 18 Tulsa, 2-0, Sept. 7, 2008
- The Buckeyes own a 6-5-3 record when playing in an early season tournament in University Park, Pa.
- With the converted penalty kick in the 26th minute, Danny Irizarry is now 4-for-4 on PKs (10/12/05 at Louisville, 9/14/06 vs. Bowling Green, 8/30/08 vs. Florida Gulf Coast and 9/7/08 vs. Tulsa).
- All six of Ohio State’s scores this season have been generated by its midfielders (Gold, Irizarry, Marsh and Scales) and defenders (Gabel and Tiemstra)
- In 2008, Ohio State is 2-0-1 when the Buckeyes score first and is 3-01 when the team outshoots its opponent.
- The Buckeyes own a 5-1-2 record when playing on the Big Ten Network.
- Weather: Mid-80’s and sunny
- The Buckeyes are 1-2-0 all-time against the Hurricane.
- Geoff Marsh’s first goal of the season, recorded in the fifth minute of the Ohio State-Tulsa game, marks the first time the senior midfielder has scored in the month of September in his Buckeye career. His previous 13 career goals and/or assists have come on or after Oct. 1.

Soccer Game Summary (Final)
#18 Tulsa vs. #10 Ohio State (Sept 7, 2008 at University Park, Pa.)

 Tulsa (2-1-1) vs. Ohio State (3-0-1)
 Date: Sept 7, 2008  

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------
 Tulsa...............  0  0 -  0
 Ohio State..........  2  0 -  2
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.   4:59 OSU Marsh, Geoff (1) (Scales, Sam)
  2.  25:51 OSU Irizarry, Danny (2) Penalty kick

 Shots: Tulsa 12, Ohio State 15
 Saves: Tulsa 4 (Lacey, Tyrel 4), Ohio State 6 (Czekanski, Drew 6)

2008 Penn State Classic All-Tournament Team
Geoff Marsh, Ohio State (co-MVP)
Tim Gabel, Ohio State
Matt Gold, Ohio State
Drew Czekanski, Ohio State
Ross Liberati, Bucknell (co-MVP)
Patrick Selwood, Bucknell
Mark Schmiegel, Bucknell
Sean King, Bucknell
Justin Chavez, Tulsa
Ashley McInnes, Tulsa
Jeovahnni Sandez, Tulsa
Liam Fitzwater, Penn State
Ryan Badaracco, Penn State