Box Score COLUMBUS, Ohio – For the first time since 2017, the Ohio Dominican men's soccer team secured a victory over a nationally-ranked opponent. The Black and Gold defeated No.14 Cedarville University by the score of 2-1 at Sunbury Road on Thursday evening. The last time the Panthers defeated a ranked opponent came when ODU downed No.12 Urbana University on August 31, 2017.
Coming into the contest the Yellow Jackets offense averaged 24.3 shots per game. The Panthers' defense lead by Jaxson Szabo (Worthington, Ohio) and Jonathan Lang (Amelia, Ohio) stifled their opponents, holding them to just 11 shots (four on target) during the contest.
Szabo not only contributed on defense but was a factor in the final third. The senior defender forced the first save out of Cedarville goalkeeper Jared Zacharias in the 10th minute. Szabo struck again in the 18th minute as his headed effort also challenged the visiting goalkeeper.
Forward Shingai Nindi (Shanghai, China) tallied two quick opportunities before the end of the first half, both of which forced a save from Zacharias. Just 10 minutes removed from halftime, the sophomore forward etched his name into the scoresheet. Mo Sheik (Columbus, Ohio) snuck a pass around the Yellow Jackets defense that found the feet of Nindi. The sophomore took a touch and calmly placed his shot past the visiting goalkeeper to claim a 1-0 lead.
Just 90 seconds elapsed on the game clock before Cedarville was presented with a chance to equalize. A handball in the box gave the visitors a penalty kick in the 58th minute. Forward Mauricio Ochoa Vazquez converted his opportunity to tie the game at 1-1 with a half-hour remaining.
With five minutes to go in regulation, the Black and Gold found its opportunity to claim victory. Senior Nuno Lopez (Foz, Spain) found teammate Khalif Hassan (Columbus, Ohio) who remained persistent and slammed the ball into the back of the net to give the Black and Gold a precious 2-1 lead with time ticking away. The Panther defense remained intact to hold on to claim the 2-1 win.
Head coach Willy Merrick spoke with Sports Information Director Ralph Schudel following the win.
NUMBER SIX
Thursday's win against Cedarville gives ODU its sixth win over a ranked opponent in the NCAA Division II era and just the second time since the Black and Gold have moved into the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
UP NEXT
ODU looks to defend its home field against Malone University on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 PM.
Contact: Ralph Schudel
schudelr@ohiodominican.edu
