COLUMBUS, Ohio - Behind a goal and two assists from junior
Lauren Steuer, No. 15 Ohio State defeated No. 23 Indiana, 6-0, Sunday afternoon in Columbus.
The six goals tied the Buckeyes' highest scoring output this season. With the win, the Buckeyes tie the 1996 team for the second-most wins in school history.
"I am so proud of this team," head coach Lori Walker said. "It is great to get a win on senior day but we have to finish the regular season strong at Michigan State."
In a first half played mostly deep in the Indiana end, the Buckeyes had multiple chances early. Indiana goalkeeper Lauren Hollandsworth made a diving save on a shot by senior Ashley Bowyer in the 10th minute. Six minutes later, Hollandsworth stopped Bowyer again, this time making another diving save on a Bowyer header off a corner from Steuer.
However, Steuer and Bowyer would hook up in the 23rd minute when the co-captain drilled home a shot from six yards out off a Steuer corner to put the Buckeyes up 1-0.
Less than two minutes later, sophomore Paige Maxwell doubled the Ohio State lead when she scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season on a perfectly placed shot from the left wing.
Neither team was able to muster any more solid chances as the Buckeyes went into the break with the 2-0 lead.
Ohio State outshot Indiana 9-2 for the half and held a 7-0 advantage in corners.
The Buckeyes did not let up to start the second half as freshman Lauren Granberg's header off a Bowyer free kick in the 47th minute sailed just wide left.
Steuer added to the Ohio State lead in 52nd minute when her left-footed corner deflected off an Indiana defender and into the back of the net.
Less than ten minutes later, Granberg finished off her sixth goal of the season off a rebound of a Steuer shot to increase the Ohio State lead to 4-0.
With just over 15 minutes remaining, freshman Kayla Eckman tallied her second goal of the season when she trapped a Colleen Brady free kick in the box and finished from eight yards out.
With just under a minute left to play, Genna Brand capped of the scoring on a shot from 10 yards out off an assist from freshman Karin Sendel.
For the game Ohio State outshot Indiana 21-3 and held a 10-0 corner kick advantage.
The Buckeyes (14-2-2, 7-1-1 Big Ten) will have a chance to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title for the first time in program history when they head to East Lansing to take on Michigan State Friday at 3 p.m.
