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Marietta College closed out the regular season with a 2-0 win over Baldwin Wallace University Saturday in Ohio Athletic Conference men’s soccer action. The win clinched a spot in next week’s OAC Tournament, Marietta’s first post season appearance since 2023.
“This was a game that we didn’t see much of the ball, but our defense was solid and every time they got through Travis (Lutz) was there for us,” Marietta head coach Joe Bergin said. “We go again on Tuesday against this same well coached side in Baldwin Wallace.”
In a match that saw 25 fouls and 11 cards issued, it was difficult for either team to get into a rhythm. Marietta’s scoring opportunities were limited, but the Pioneers took advantage of the ones they had.
Rowan Brown opened the scoring in the 38th minute. Landon Stonestreet crossed the ball into the box where Karifa Traore managed to get a shot off that was blocked by a BW defender. Brown was in the right position to bury the follow up shot in the back of the net.
Marietta thought it had a chance to double its lead early in the second half when Baldwin Wallace was whistled for a foul in the box. After a video review, the Yellow Jackets earned a reprieve when the call was reversed.
Owen Wagner slipped past the BW defense and had a one-on-one with the keeper in the 78th minute. Seth Warrick came off his line and committed a hard foul on Wagner in the box earning a red card and a penalty kick for the Pioneers. Gavin Heighberger converted the penalty for a 2-0 Marietta lead.
“The injury is tough to witness but we know that Owen was adamant that we see the game out,” Bergin said. “And with Gav’s (Heighberger) goal, we did.”
Down a man, Baldwin Wallace failed to mount a comeback in the final 12 minutes of the match. Travi Lutz posted nine saves in 86-plus minutes in goal for the Pioneers. Diego Teran had three saves in the first half for Baldwin Wallace.
Baldwin Wallace won’t have to wait long for a chance at revenge. Marietta is seeded fifth in the OAC Tournament and plays at No. 4 seed, Baldwin Wallace, on Tuesday. Game time is to be determined.
VOLLEYBALL
Senior Day at Ban Johnson Arena provided plenty of memorable moments Saturday afternoon, but visiting Baldwin Wallace ultimately spoiled the celebration with a 3-2 (25-22, 25-19, 18-25, 22-25, 15-11) Ohio Athletic Conference victory over Marietta College. With the loss, the Pioneers drop to 15-10 overall and 4-4 in the OAC. The Yellow Jackets improved to 17-6 overall and 4-4 in the conference.
Prior to the match, Marietta honored its seven-member senior class of AnnaBelle Hacker, Emma Weiseman, Kendyl Cannon, Emily Grant, Kamryn Haynes, Jayden Austermiller, and McKenzie Heil for their contributions and dedication to the Pioneer volleyball program.
The opening set saw Baldwin Wallace jump out to a 4-1 lead, but Marietta settled in behind kills from Emily Piehler and Karly Launder. A Weiseman service ace helped the Pioneers close within 9-8. The Yellow Jackets gradually built a five-point cushion at 14-9 and later stretched their advantage to 17-10. Marietta refused to go away as Heil ignited a late rally with a kill and Sarah Podkul’s serve fueled a 4-0 run that cut the deficit to 21-20. Trailing 23-20 late in the set, Hacker recorded a pair of kills to keep the Pioneers within striking distance, but Baldwin Wallace secured the final point to take set one, 25-22.
The Yellow Jackets controlled the early stages of the second set, racing out to a 6-1 advantage behind strong serving from Morgan Kaylor. Marietta responded with a small push led by a Podkul ace and a Hacker kill to cut the deficit to 9-5. Cannon entered the match midway through the set and immediately made an impact, teaming with Hacker for a block and later recorded a pair of kills, helping trim the deficit to 17-14. The Pioneers continued battling as Heil, Piehler and Launder produced key kills, and Podkul’s service run brought Marietta within 22-19. Baldwin Wallace answered with the final three points, including a kill and a Marietta attack error, to claim the second set 25-19.
Facing a must-win situation, the Pioneers delivered their most complete set of the afternoon. After falling behind 7-2, Marietta turned the momentum with its blocking effort. Hacker recorded back-to-back block assists, and the Pioneers rattled off a 6-0 run to take a 15-12 lead. Kamryn Haynes highlighted the surge with a service ace, while Launder added several clutch kills. The Marietta block party continued throughout the frame as Hacker, Launder, Karley Allwood, and Heil combined for multiple rejections. Leading 21-14, Marietta received kills from Heil and Haynes before Launder delivered a service ace for set point. The Pioneers closed out the 25-18 set three victory when a Baldwin Wallace attack was rejected by Hacker.
The fourth set produced 11 ties and numerous momentum swings. Marietta started strong with three consecutive points, highlighted by a Heil-Allwood block and an Elyse Smith service ace. Baldwin Wallace answered and eventually tied the score at 9-9 before the Pioneers used Weiseman’s serving to string together four straight points and build a 13-9 lead. The Yellow Jackets battled back and eventually pulled even at 16-16. The teams continued to trade points throughout the middle portion of the set, but with the score deadlocked at 20, Smith delivered consecutive service points, including an ace, and then connected with Heil for back-to-back kills. An Allwood kill gave Marietta a 24-20 advantage. Baldwin Wallace fought off two set points, but a final Yellow Jacket attack error sealed a 25-22 set four Marietta victory and sent the Senior Day contest to a deciding fifth set.
The Yellow Jackets seized control early in the decisive set, capitalizing on several attack errors to build a 4-0 lead. Marietta regrouped behind kills from Allwood, Heil and Launder, trimming the margin to 10-8. Consecutive Pioneer blocks involving Hacker, Launder and Heil helped keep the hosts within striking distance. After another Hacker-Heil block made it 12-9, Marietta continued to press and closed within 14-11 following a block from Piehler and Hacker. However, Baldwin Wallace’s Josie Lynn recorded the match-clinching kill to complete the 15-11 victory.
Launder paced the Pioneer attack with 14 kills and 17 digs, while Heil delivered 11 kills and five total blocks. Hacker contributed six kills and a match-high 12 total blocks. Smith collected 42 assists and three service aces. Defensively, Podkul totaled 27 digs and Kamryn Haynes added 26 digs.
Marietta closes out the regular season on Thursday against Thiel College in a neutral-site matchup at Muskingum University. The Pioneers will then turn their attention to the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament, where they have secured the No. 5 seed and will travel to face No. 4 Mount Union in a first-round playoff match on the following Tuesday.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
BEREA -- The Marietta College women’s soccer team dropped a hard-fought 1-0 decision at Baldwin Wallace University Saturday in their regular-season finale. Despite the setback, the Pioneers secured a spot in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament and will make their first postseason appearance since 2003.
Baldwin Wallace scored the game’s lone goal in the 35th minute when Emma Luther found the back of the net at the 34:16 mark of the opening half. The Yellow Jackets controlled much of the offensive possession, outshooting Marietta 15-6 and holding a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks. However, the Pioneers’ defense and goalkeeper Francesca Agliolo kept things close throughout the afternoon. Agliolo recorded six saves, including three in each half.
Marietta’s best scoring opportunities came off the foot of Jaylyn Thornton, who accounted for five of the team’s six shots. Thornton tested Baldwin Wallace goalkeeper Mackenzie Butcher in the 29th minute and again in the 79th minute. Her closest chance came with just under eight minutes remaining when a shot struck the left post, narrowly missing the equalizer. Jailynn Woodruff recorded Marietta’s only other shot on goal, forcing a save midway through the first half.
The Pioneers continued to push forward in the closing minutes and earned a pair of corner kicks in the final eight minutes, but were unable to find the tying goal.
With the regular season complete, Marietta enters postseason play with a 6-9-3 overall record and a 3-4-1 mark in OAC competition. The Pioneers will look to continue their historic season Tuesday when they travel to face Otterbein in the OAC Tournament First Round. The postseason appearance marks Marietta’s first conference tournament berth since 2003.