toledoblade.com -- Area players boost OSU women's soccer

COLUMBUS- The Ohio State women's soccer team is off to the best start in school history, and a pair of Toledo-area players have been part of the Buckeyes' march toward a potential Big Ten championship and a likely NCAA Tournament bid.

Sophomores Taylor Moront from St. Ursula Academy and Brooke Taylor from Sylvania Northview have helped Ohio State go 13-2-2 over its first 17 games.

The Buckeyes were ranked No. 15 in the nation leading into a recent home game with Indiana.

Moront, a 5-foot, 7-inch forward, said OSU has been on a roll since it followed up a shaky 1-1-1 start with a West Coast swing that saw the Buckeyes post wins over San Diego, USC, and UNLV.

"The team in general came in much more fit than we have before, so that allowed us to focus on the soccer aspect much more," Moront said. "We started out strong in California, and we've really just gone from there."

Moront, who has played in 11 games for the Buckeyes, has a pair of goals and leads the team in shot accuracy at 66.7 percent.

Taylor

Zoom | Photo Reprints

Freshmen and sophomores have scored 21 of the 32 OSU goals this season and eight of Ohio State's 13 game-winning goals.

Taylor, a 5-foot, 3-inch midfielder, has appeared in three games and has one assist.

The Buckeyes close out the season with a game against Michigan State and likely will be part of the NCAA tournament field when that event gets under way in mid-November.

"It's really exciting for all of us," Moront said about the prospect of playing in the NCAA. "Nobody on this team has made NCAA's in our career, so it's a huge deal and the fact that we're only two games away makes us want it that much more. We just want to take care of business the next two weekends so we can get that ring."

Moront was a four-year starter on the St. Ursula teams that won four straight City League and district championships (2004-07).

She helped St. Ursula reach the state semifinals in 2004 and was the team's leading goal scorer in 2004 and 2005.

Taylor was a four-year starter at Northview and a major force as the Wildcats won four straight Northern Lakes League championships.

She was a team captain and MVP as a senior in 2007 and an all-district choice.

The University of Toledo Ice Hockey Club is scheduling a food drive on Nov. 7 during a home game against Robert Morris University to benefit Feed Lucas County Children.

All fans in attendance that day can receive $1 off their admission price for each nonperishable food item they bring. There is no limit on the number of items each fan is allowed to bring and financial donations will also be accepted.

FLCC will be on site to receive all donations. For more information about this local, nonprofit organization, visit feedlucaschildren.org.

Another event, which is planned for Nov. 15, will be a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio.

The idea for this event started two years ago with a game organized by and played against Monroe Community College.

Monroe's team has since folded but the Toledo club decided to carry on the event and this year will be bringing it to Tam O'Shanter Ice Arena.

Events for the day will include an open skate for all Big Brothers Big Sisters participants, pizza and pictures with the team, and finally a home game against the University of Pittsburgh.

Tam O'Shanter Ice Arena has donated open skate admission and limited skate rentals; and all gate proceeds that day will be donated to BBBS. Events for the day will begin at 1 p.m. Information: bbbsnwo.org.

A third community event planned is a similar game in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

This game will be held Feb. 20 at 3:30 p.m. against the University of Cincinnati. Before this game, there will again be an open skate for members and supporters of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and throughout the day there will be a number of raffles, auctions, and giveaways to help support this charity. Information: cff.org.

For more information on the UT hockey club go to utoledohockey.com.

Permanent Link