Women's Soccer captures OAC Regular Season title with 4-0 shutout over Marietta

Marietta 7-7-5, 1-4-4 OAC

Ohio Northern 14-3-0, 8-1-0 OAC

Final

Marietta (7-7-5, 1-4-4 OAC)

Ohio Northern (14-3-0, 8-1-0 OAC)

Women's Soccer captures OAC Regular Season title with 4-0 shutout over Marietta

Team Stats

Scoring Summary

2nd - 48:13 - Alyssa Manley (Ohio Northern)

2nd - 54:14 - Alyssa Manley (Ohio Northern)

2nd - 54:49 - Rose Nienaber (Ohio Northern)

2nd - 57:22 - Rose Nienaber (Ohio Northern)

Game Leaders

Marietta

G: N/A

A: N/A

Sh: 3 Players (#8, #20, #25) - 1

Sv: Rebecca Tenney - 5

Ohio Northern

G: 2 Players (#4, #22) - 2

A: 3 Players (#4, #11, #22) - 1

Sh: Shelby Stephens - 4

Sv: Meagan Grierson - 2

Team Stats

Marietta

Ohio Northern

Shots (on goal)

3 (2)

16 (9)

Saves

Fouls

Corner Kicks

Offsides

Full stats

October 29, 2016

By Caleb Scott

ADA — The Ohio Northern women's soccer team celebrated Senior Day as they shutout Marietta 4-0 and won the Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season title outright Saturday afternoon at Kerscher Stadium.

The Polar Bears move to 14-3-0 overall and 8-1-0 in the OAC while the Pioneers fall to 7-7-5, 1-4-4.

With the victory, the Polar Bears have claimed the No. 1 seed in next week's OAC Tournament and have clinched home field advantage throughout the tournament.

Northern earned a first-round bye and will host the winner of the lowest remaining seed of the two quarterfinal contests.

Ohio Northern celebrated one of the most successful classes in ONU history as seniors Kathleen Carley (Gahanna/Lincoln), Michaela Gutierrez (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area), Sarah Huster (Cincinnati/Mount Notre Dame), Haley Napier (Beavercreek/Beavercreek), Ellie Schmalzl (Walton, Ky./Ryle), Shelby Stephens (Cypress, Tex./Cypress Woods), Missy Ward (Columbus/Westerville North) and Rachel Weigman (Pickerington/North) were each recognized prior to this afternoon's contest.

"We are just very happy for this group of seniors," said head coach Mark Batman. "We talked to them at the beginning of the year about the things that they will enjoy the most and the things they work hardest for, and I think today was a great representation of that."

In a contest that recognized the most experienced players, it was the youth of the team that led Northern in the contest.

Freshmen Alyssa Manley (Lima/Bath) and Rose Nienaber (Cincinnatti/Oak Hills) each scored twice to lead Northern offensively.

After a scoreless first half, Nienaber found Manley on a breakaway with a long through ball, before Manley beat to MC keeper to make it 1-0 in the 49th minute.

In the 54th minute, Manley would again find the back of the net as she placed a shot just out of the Marietta keepers reach and extended the lead to 2-0.

Less than 40 seconds later, Nienaber added to the lead as Stephens played a short through ball and Nienaber found the back of the net from the left wing to make it 3-0.

The Manley and Nienaber show would continue in the 58th minute as Manley played a perfect cross into the goalies box and found a wide open Nienaber who was able to capitalize and seal the 4-0 shutout.

"We are just super excited for these girls. They work hard day in and day out and they definitely deserve an OAC Championship," said Batman.

Freshman Meagan Grierson (Miamisburg/Miamisburg) earned the victory in the goal and improved to 14-0-3 on the year, while posting two saves.

Northern outshot Marietta by a 16-3 margin and won the corner kick battle 6-0.

The Polar Bears will await the results of Tuesday's OAC Tournament quarterfinal contests and will host the lowest remaining seed at Kerscher Stadium on Thursday at 7 pm.