Polar Bears Win at Wooster Invitational

The ONU Women's Soccer team posted two shutout victories over the weekend at the College of Wooster Invitational. The team adapted to last minute schedule and field changes and walked away 2-0 over the weekend. The Polar Bears first faced the Quakers from Earlham College on Saturday afternoon. The Quakers, led by a new coach, were inspired to make the game a battle from the start. After both teams took some time adjusting to the turf, ONU held the advantage on the ball with numerous chances at goal, but headed into halftime at zeros. Early in the second half, the ONU offensive persistence paid off as a through pass was sent to Kristina Klusek into the Quaker penalty area. Klusek gathered the ball, and laid it off to an awaiting Sandy Plunkett, who showed great composure and slotted home the eventual game winner through the goal keeper and defender guarding the endline. That goal would stand as ONU maintained the momentum for the remainder of the game.

On Sunday, the Polar Bears faced the College of Wooster. The Scots played a hard fought game the previous day vs OAC competitor Baldwin Wallace, which ended in a double overtime draw. ONU was quick to get things going as Sandra Thorarensen hit the post after beating two defenders just moments into the match. The first half would be played mainly in the middle part of the field, without either goal keeper being tested. It took ONU less than two minutes to get going in the second half as Sandra Thorarensen scored two unanswered goals moments apart from each other. The first came from a Klusek throw in towards Sophmore Sandy Plunett, who nodded the ball past a defender to an awaiting Thorarensen in the middle of the penalty area. Thorarensen pounded her shot past the Scot goal keeper making the score 1-0. Just moments later, Thorarensen would find the end of a cross from Klusek who beat her defender to the endline and sent a great ball to the back post where Thorarensen calmly passed the cross into the back of the net.

 ONU is now 2-0-2 on the season with Ohio Wesleyan University coming to town on Wednesday. The Battling Bishops made a trip to the NCAA National Tournament in 2011 and will be a tough in region test for the Polar Bears. Coach Batman had this to say about the weekend. "It was a great weekend for the girls. They really needed both matches to prove to themselves just how good of a team we can be. The young players are beginning to catch on and improving each day and the veterans are starting to play like it. If we can continue to improve from game to game, it may be a very exciting and fun season. Overall I was extremely proud of how our players handled all the schedule changes, facility changes as well as our demeanor during both games. We are growing and playing better in each test. We are now looking ahead at hosting Ohio Welseyan on Wednesday as it is a big in region game for both teams."