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MEN'S SOCCER
ADA -- Ohio Northern scored a pair of first half goals to defeat Marietta College, 2-0, Saturday in Ohio Athletic Conference men’s soccer action. The Loss drops Marietta to 2-5-2 overall and 0-1 in the OAC. The Polar Bears improve to 6-3-3 overall and 1-0 in the OAC.
“For all the good things we did, against a good side like ONU, we were punished for our mistakes,” Marietta head coach Joe Bergin said. “I love the fight we showed, but we have to be smarter about things.”
Ohio Northern controlled the match from start to finish. The Polar Bears got on the board in the twelfth minute on a goal from Colin Gottron. Sterling Segal and Aidan McMahon assisted on the game winner.
Gottron later added another goal, which was assisted by Johnny Roussakis.
Ohio Northern held a decisive 23-7 advantage on shots, including an 11-2 edge in shots on goal. The Polar. Bears were awarded 11 corners to just two for Marietta.
Noah Walker posted nine saves in goal for the Pioneers. Luca Chiappetta had a pair of saves for the Polar Bears.
Marietta returns home to host Carlow on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
The Marietta College volleyball team kicked off Ohio Athletic Conference play in dramatic fashion, battling through a five-set marathon to defeat Ohio Northern University, 3-2 (17-25, 25-9, 22-25, 27-25, 15-11), on Saturday inside Ban Johnson Arena. With the victory, the Pioneers improve to 12-6 overall and 1-0 in conference action, while the Polar Bears fall to 8-8 overall and 0-2 in the OAC.
Ohio Northern controlled the opening set early, taking advantage of strong attack play from Summer Hoying and Julian Gaier. Even though the Pioneers got several kills from Emily Piehler, Karly Launder, and AnnaBelle Hacker, it was not enough to stay close to the Polar Bears and they pulled away for a 25-17 set victory.
Marietta responded with a dominant second frame. Behind powerful attacks from Piehler and Launder, an early run at the service line sparked by Sarah Podkul, and strong defense at the net by Hacker, the Pioneers built an early lead and cruised to a 25-9 set two win to tie the match.
The Polar Bears bounced back in a tight third set. Back-and-forth action saw 10 ties and three lead changes before ONU closed out the set 25-22 on consecutive points by Hoying.
Trailing and facing elimination, Marietta fought through an intense fourth frame that featured high-pressure service aces from Elyse Smith and Jayden Austermiller. Down late, the Pioneers erased set points and capped off a 27-25 set four comeback win with a clutch kill from Kendyl Cannon.
Marietta kept the momentum going into the deciding fifth set, hitting .333 as a team. Piehler, Cannon, Karley Allwood set the early tone with some big kills and Hacker and Smith delivered some huge blocks to push the lead to 9-4. Launder delivered the final blow with a match-winning kill to secure the 15-11 set five victory.
Piehler led all scorers with 16 kills, while Launder recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 25 digs. Cannon added 13 kills, and Hacker registered 10 kills and led with six blocks. Smith registered a game-high 44 assists and Podkul anchored the backline defensively with a match-high 35 digs.
The Pioneers will next be in action next Saturday as they will travel to Wilmington College for another conference tilt. The action is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
ADA -- The Marietta College women’s soccer team opened Ohio Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon, falling 2-0 to Ohio Northern University. With the defeat, the Pioneers move to 2-6-2 overall and 0-1-0 in conference action, while the Polar Bears improve to 3-4-3 overall and 1-0-0 in the OAC.
Marietta’s defense held strong through a busy opening period. Goalkeeper Francesca Agliolo anchored the backline early, making three saves in the first 45 minutes to keep Ohio Northern off the board despite a 9-1 shot advantage for the Polar Bears.
The Polar Bears broke the deadlock early in the second half with two quick strikes just 67 seconds apart. Kenzie Creviston netted the match’s opening goal at the 50:27 mark off an assist from Ayva Moore. Moments later at the 51-minute mark, Moore found the back of the net herself off a return pass from Creviston to double the ONU advantage to 2-0.
Marietta pushed upfield down the stretch, creating second-half chances from Madelyn Call, Jaylyn Thornton, and Katie Heighberger, but was unable to break through the Polar Bear defense.
Ohio Northern outshot the Pioneers, 20-4, and also held a large advantage in corner kicks, 10-1.
Agliolo logged all 90 minutes between the posts for Marietta, finishing with five saves against 20 total shots faced. Ohio Northern’s Blake Sakach recorded one save to pick up the clean-sheet victory.
The Pioneers will next be in action this Wednesday as they will take to the road for their final non-conference matchup of the year. They will battle Mount Aloysuis College in a matchup scheduled for 6 p.m.