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Saturday, October 10 – 5:00 PM EST

(4) Ohio State (16-4-1, 8-2-1, 2nd Big Ten) vs Oakland (10-5-3, 6-2-0, 1st Summit)

Ohio State will fancy their chances of keeping up their surging form in the first round of the Big Dance, but they’ll also be wary of an Oakland side that has shown very well against Big Ten opposition this year, including in a very narrow loss to Michigan earlier in the year. While OSU likely considers itself a cut above that opposition, Oakland didn’t do half bad for itself against Wake Forest last season in this competition, meaning the Buckeyes would do well to come into this one with full focus. Anything else seems unfathomable though, considering this Buckeye squad looked razor sharp in rolling their way to a Big Ten Tournament title that sealed a national seed for them. Solid on defense and explosive on offense, Ohio State comes into this competition with a very real chance of still being standing in December. First things first though, is still being standing next weekend, and the Buckeyes will have to do a professional job to brush aside a pesky opponent in Oakland.

Prediction: (4) Ohio State 2 – 0 Oakland

(Team Capsules after the jump.)

Ohio State

How They Got Here – Relatively easily after a rather rocky beginning. OSU lost their opening two games to Hofstra and Rutgers but then reeled off five wins to finish up non-conference play. Skies were looking clearer going into league play, as OSU had topped Maryland and Missouri in that above stretch. But after winning their league opener, the Buckeyes won just one of four, which saw them slide back into dangerous territory. They’d turn it on late though, winning their last six to surge into second in the league and headed into the postseason as one of the nation’s form clubs. That hot form continued in the Big Ten Tournament, as the Buckeyes reeled off three more wins to walk away with the trophy.

Best Result – The Buckeyes lifted another trophy and sealed a national seed by beating Illinois, 2-1, in the Big Ten Tournament final.

Worst Result – Outlier or no, the season opening loss to Hofstra, by two goals no less, could have cost this club a national seed.

Who’s The Boss – Part-time pundit, full-time Buckeye boss Lori Walker saw her stock rise immeasurably in 2010 after leading OSU to a league title and the College Cup for the first time in program history. The former UNC goalkeeper had been an assistant at Maryland before starting the Kansas program in a two-year stint in Lawrence. 2010′s breakthrough season was followed up by a rather disappointing 2011, salvaged in large part by a fine NCAA Tournament run. With that in mind, Walker will be looking for another deep run in 2012 to show her side is here to stay as a national contender.

Players To Watch

Tiffany Cameron (LF) – Canadian senior proved to be the truth this season, exploding for twenty goals coming into the Big Dance, including nine winners. Has shown signs of real potential in the past but has put it all together for a fabulous senior season. Could be in line for a breakout performance in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

Danica Wu (DM) – Rottweiler in the middle is a hell of an enforcer in midfield despite standing just 5’2″. Has been key to the club’s ascent up the Big Ten table since her return from international duty. Not a big offensive threat but still good for the odd goal and assist here and there, though her true value comes from leadership and toughness. Health is a question mark though after missing past handful of games through injury.

Lauren Granberg (CF) – Another member of OSU’s pipeline to Canada has seen extensive time at both center-back, and her current role, center-forward. After seeing bulk of time in the rearguard last year, has shifted up front and been the perfect foil for Cameron, with her size and strength. Fine return of eight goals and nine assists gives OSU a strong secondary scoring option.

Kendyl Reed (LB) – Jack of all trades has turned into a fine left-back for Walker’s side. Starting midfielder in 2011 has made the move to the rearguard as a senior and has arguably been one of the league’s revelations in defense. Despite background as a midfielder/forward, has not shown much as an attacking threat this year.

Strengths – The Buckeyes certainly look a side capable of making a deep run on paper with the second most goals scored and least conceded in league play. Cameron and Granberg form a deadly duo up front that should be able to overpower more modest defenses given their form thus far. Defensively, the record basically speaks for itself, though three goals conceded against Penn State shows the defense isn’t totally watertight. Experience works in OSU’s favor as well, as a decent chunk of the Buckeyes’ squad has experience from their College Cup run from a few years ago.

Weaknesses – If this club has an Achilles’ heel, it’s probably in between the pipes. The Buckeyes have played musical goalkeeper with junior Rachel Middleman and rookie Jillian McVicker all season, and while Walker certainly knows about netminders, neither particularly inspires great confidence if this club gets into the deeper rounds of the tournament against clubs with more seasoned and skilled keepers. McVicker seems to have won the job outright for now, but it’ll be interesting to see if the rotation has ended for good.

Will Lose When – A strong defense manages to shut down Cameron and Granberg, with a club exposing the side’s somewhat worrisome goalkeeping situation.

Upside – Elite Eight

Downside – Second Round

Famous Last Words – Those looking for a sleeper to make a deep run in the Big Dance this year could do far worse than look at the Buckeyes. Strong, diversified offense, stingy defense, and experience in this competition should serve them well. They’re probably a player or two short of a run to San Diego, but they could get mighty close.

Oakland

How They Got Here – With both hands around both pieces of Summit League silverware. A draw with both Michigan State and Northwestern and a battling defeat to Michigan early on showed that these Golden Grizzlies weren’t going to lay down for anyone and were a legitimate threat for honors a season after marching to the NCAA Tournament. Three wins in three to begin league play had some thinking it was going to be an easy march to glory, but OU would then lose two of three to raise tension levels a bit. Victory by a 1-0 margin in their final two games would deliver the league title their way, the second of those wins coming against closest challengers Western Illinois, who would also be batted aside in the conference tournament semi-finals. A win over IPFW in the final sent Oakland back dancing.

Best Result – That draw against Northwestern probably opened more eyes than the one against Michigan State given the clubs’ final RPIs.

Worst Result – The two goals loss to UMKC was excruciating and could have cost OU the league title.

Who’s The Boss – In charge of Oakland for nearly two decades, Nick O’Shea has plundered his home state of Michigan and Canada for talent and brewed a winning formula for the Golden Grizzlies. The dean of coaches in the Summit League, O’Shea leads the conference in career wins and doesn’t look likely to cede that spot any time soon. His Golden Grizzlies have won fifteen major trophies in Summit League play since the turn of the century and are also the only team to have successfully defended a tournament title in the Summit League. The next step for this program is the win a game in the Big Dance. It’s a tall order, but given O’Shea’s success so far, not one that’s totally out of the question.

Players To Watch

Kyla Kellermann (F) – Oakland’s not a club of a lot of top notch scoring threats, but Kellermann’s as good as it gets in the Summit League, as evidenced by her Offensive Player of the Year gong. Wasn’t a full-time starter last year but still managed five goals to finish second on the team. Has been unshakable from the lineup this year, finishing with nine goals and four assists, though only two of those were in the league. Big performance needed if OU is to pull an upset.

Kara Weber (CB) – Defensive Player of the Year in the Summit League has the size and talent to be a dominant force on the backline. A four-year starter who has no shortage of offensive skill either, as seen by four goals and four assists in 2010, Weber is a mountain in the middle of the defense who will be charged with helping keep OSU’s diverse offense off the board. Should be able to do a job herself, but can her teammates come through as well?

Abigail Haelewyn (M) – Local product was scarcely used early in her career and only as a key reserve last year but has blossomed into an invaluable presence in midfield for the Golden Grizzlies. After previously scrapping by with little offense to her name, has turned into a creative bulwark for OU, leading the team with nine assists, more than double that of the club’s next highest total. Faces a tough task against a gritty OSU midfield but could be helped by Wu’s potential absence.

Julianne Boyle (M) – Steady as the mail in midfield since winning a starting job as a rookie and netting seven assists. Hasn’t been quite as involved offensively since but has still chipped in with a goal and three assists this year. Experience a boon for the Golden Grizzlies and could be a key figure in what could be an intriguing midfield battle against the Buckeyes.

Strengths – Experience and depth for one. Much of this squad was on board for last year’s foray into the NCAA Tournament, and a good chunk of Oakland’s key players are upperclassmen unlikely to be cowed by a Big Ten opponent. OSU isn’t some of the Big Ten clubs Oakland’s done well against this year, but OU did push Michigan, a comparable club to the Buckeyes, to the limit in 1-0 loss. These Golden Grizzlies are also a pretty well rounded bunch, with Kellermann a big threat up front and a stingy defense protecting the goal.

Weaknesses – They need the defense to be lights out, because weapons are in short shrift for the Golden Grizzlies. They scored just twenty-three goals against DI foes in eighteen games, with only Kellermann netting more than four. Nobody netted more than three in league play. If they get behind and have to chase, they could be in trouble.

Will Lose When – Someone takes a multiple goal lead and makes the Grizzlies dig out of too deep a hole.

Upside – Second Round

Downside – First Round

Famous Last Words – Oakland would be an intriguing pick for an upset against many foes. OSU’s a tough draw though, as the Buckeyes are confident and on form and has enough on offense to probably give OU a tough time in defense. The Golden Grizzlies have done really well against Big Ten foes this season in non-conference play, so they probably aren’t going to get rolled, but they don’t have much more than a puncher’s chance to emerge with a shock upset.

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