Here an update of ONU sports action from this past weekend.
Volleyball
The Ohio Northern Volleyball team began its 2020-21 season by sweeping Marietta 3-1 and 3-2 on Friday night at ONU Sports Center.
With both wins, the Polar Bears start the season 2-0 overall and 2-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, and the Pioneers fall to 0-2, 0-2.
In the first match, Northern defeated Marietta 20-25, 25-12, 25-18, 27-25.
Freshman Ava Ehlinger (New Carlisle/Tecumseh) led ONU with 14 kills and .367 hitting percentage in the match.
MC won the first set, and ONU responded by winning three consecutive sets to win the match.
After Marietta first set win, the Polar Bears took a 5-0 to extend the score 23-10 to cruise to a second set victory.
In the fourth set, Northern led 22-18, then a 5-1 MC run tied the score at 23-23.
After trading points to make it 25-25, Ohio Northern scored the final two points, capped by an Ehlinger kill to win the fourth set and match.
The Polar Bears notched 53 kills on 147 swings with 14 errors (.265 hitting percentage) while the Pioneers posted 47 kills on 149 swings with 19 errors (.201 hitting percentage).
In the second match, ONU defeated MC 25-23, 25-17, 19-25, 21-25, 15-12 led by Ehlinger with 14 kills and junior Melina Woods (Ada) added 13 kills.
Ohio Northern closed the first set on a 9-2 run to win 25-23.
The Polar Bears used a 7-0 run in the middle of the second set to take a 16-11 lead and went on to the win.
Back-to-back Marietta set wins forced a match-deciding fifth set.
In the fifth set, the Polar Bears started on a 6-2 run, then the lead shrunk to 14-12 in favor of ONU.
Woods clinched the fifth set and match with a kill.
The Polar Bears notched 63 kills on 175 swings with 31 errors (.183 hitting percentage) while the Pioneers posted 51 kills on 171 swings with 28 errors (.158 hitting percentage).
The two wins marked first-year head coach Katie Kuhn's first victories of her career.
Ohio Northern will travel to Baldwin Wallace for two matches starting at 6 pm on Tuesday night.
Baseball
TIFFIN — The Ohio Northern baseball team wrapped up its non-conference schedule with tight 5-1 and 4-2 losses at No. 25-ranked Heidelberg on Sunday at Peaceful Valley.
The Polar Bears fall to 1-3 overall and the Student Princes improve to 3-1.
Junior Corey McMann (Flower Mound, Tex./Liberty Christian) went 4-for-8 on the day to lead the ONU offense.
In the opener, HU scored twice in the fourth and once in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings to build a 5-0 lead.
Northern scored in the top of the ninth when McMann doubled home senior Andy Mills (Cincinnati/St. Xavier).
In the nightcap, HU built a 4-0 lead until the Polar Bears threatened in the top of the ninth.
Northern had four of its eight hits in the frame, scoring twice and loading the bases trailing 4-2.
Junior Mason Troyer (Goshen, Ind./Northridge) hit a sacrifice fly to score senior Jake Gherardi(Austintown/Austintown-Fitch) and had a two-out single to score sophomore Nate Webb (Liberty, Ind./Union County) to make it 4-2.
Sophomore Jacob Wenning (Coldwater) and junior Sam Zeleznik (Hinckley/Highland) followed with singles to lead the bases.
But Heidelberg pitcher Brian Knizner got junior Chayton Overholt (Van Wert/Lincolnview) to ground out to end the game.
The Polar Bears will begin the Ohio Athletic Conference portion of its schedule next Saturday and Sunday with a 4-game
Softball
BEXLEY — The Ohio Northern softball team opened the Ohio Athletic Conference portion of its 2021 schedule with 3-2 and 8-7 losses at Capital on Saturday afternoon at Clowson Field.
The Polar Bears fall to 1-3-1 overall and are 0-2 in OAC play, while the Crusaders improve to 2-0, 2-0.
Sophomore Annika Murray (Hilliard/Bradley) went 4-for-9 with a home run and junior Lauren Renner(Columbus/Hilliard Bradley) was 3-for-6 with a double to lead the ONU offense on the day.
In the opening game, CU built a 3-0 lead after four innings, but Murray's solo home run with two out in the top of the seventh pulled Ohio Northern within 3-2.
The hosts would get the final out to hang on for the win however.
In Game 2, the Crusaders scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a quick 6-2 lead.
Northern answered with two in the second, one in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the sixth to tie the game at 7-7.
Capital won the game with a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth.
The Polar Bears and Crusaders will wrap up their four-game series with a double header on Sunday at 1 pm at the ONU Softball Field.
More softball
ADA — The Ohio Northern softball team split an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader with Capital at the ONU Softball Field on Sunday afternoon.
The Polar Bears (2-4-1 overall, 1-3 Ohio Athletic Conference) won the opener 11-3, while the Crudasers (3-1, 3-1) held on to win the nightcap 6-5.
Sophomore Abby Davis (New Palestine, Ind.) went 5-for-8 with two runs scored and 2 RBI on the day to lead the ONU offense.
In the opener, junior Abby Elliott (Loveland/Ursuline) went 2-for-4 with 4 RBI in game one.
Northern scored five times in the bottom of the first and three more in the second to take a quick 8-0 lead. The game was called after six innings due to the NCAA's 8-run rule.
Freshman Alex Daum (Wapakoneta) allowed only five hits and two earned runs to earn her first collegiate victory in the circle.
In game two, Capital scored five runs in the top of the fourth to break a 1-1 tie and grab a 6-1 lead.
Northern answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, but were not able to get the equalizer and CU held on for the split.
The Polar Bears will return to action next weekend with a four-game series with Marietta.
Women’s soccer
ADA — Freshman Alex Hoeffel (Continental) and sophomore Hailey McGuire (Lone Tree, Colo./Highlands Ranch) each scored goals to lead the Ohio Northern women's soccer team to a season-opening 2-0 victory over Marietta on Sunday afternoon at Kerscher Stadium.
The Polar Bears improve to 1-0-0 overall, 1-0-0 Ohio Athletic Conference and the Pioneers fall to 0-1-0, 0-1-0.
Junior Kristy Catrine (Springboro) had a two-save shutout in her first career start in goal.
Northern got on the board quickly with Hoeffel scored on a breakaway off a through ball from junior Carissa Beckham (Mason/Mount Notre Dame) with just 4:19 gone into the contest.
McGuire scored in the 38th minute off an assist from junior Caroline Goeller (Dayton/Oakwood) to make it 2-0.
Ohio Northern out-shot 12-4 in the contest.
The Polar Bears will return to action on Thursday with a 7 pm contest at Baldwin Wallace.
Men’s soccer
MARIETTA — The Ohio Northern men's soccer team opened its 2020-21 season with a 2-1 setback at Marietta on Saturday afternoon at Marietta Field.
The Polar Bears fall to, 0-1-0 overall and are 0-1-0 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, while the Pioneers improve to 1-0-0, 1-0-0.
Junior Levi King (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) scored an unassisted goal with 8:57 left in the match to pull ONU within 2-1.
Ohio Northern got two more shots on goal in the final eight minutes, but both were saved and MC held on for the win.
The Pioneers scored on a penalty kick in the 22nd minute and scored again in the 75th minute to go up 2-0.
Marietta out-shot Ohio Northern 15-13.
The Polar Bears will return home on Thursday for their home opener against Baldwin Wallace on Thursday at 7 pm at Kerscher Stadium.
Women’s lacrosse
ADA — Freshman Sydney Kilgore (Pleasant Plain/Little Miami) registered a school-record seven assists and tied her school-record with 10 points for the second time this season, leading the Ohio Northern women's lacrosse team to a 22-4 victory against Muskingum Saturday afternoon at Dial-Roberson Stadium.
With the win, the Polar Bears improve to 4-3 overall and are 4-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Muskies fall to 0-3, 0-3.
Northern had four players record hat tricks as senior Annie McArn (Bay Village/Western Reserve Academy) registered four goals, and freshmen Noel Orioli (Westerville/North), Kilgore, and Avary Snyder(Uniontown/Lake) each scored three goals.
Kilgore's 10 points ties a school record she tied earlier this year and shares with Maddie Storr and Rachel Shipman.
Ohio Northern began the game on a 9-1 run, fueled by two goals and two assists by Kilgore.
A Muskingum 3-0 run, ended by sophomore Amanda Wells (Mason) goal, extended the lead to 10-4, with 4:33 remaining in the first half.
The Polar Bears scored the last 13 goals of the game to cruise to the victory.
ONU out-shot MU 35-13, won the draw controls battle 16-11 and held a 24-10 advantage in ground balls.
Ohio Northern will return to action Wednesday night at 7 pm at Capital.
Senior Cameron Marous (Brecksville/Brecksville Boradview Heights) had five goals and three assists and junior Nick Edkins (Liberty Township/Lakota East) added three goals as the Ohio Northern men's lacrosse team won at Muskingum 16-3 on Saturday at the North Turf Field.
The Polar Bears improve to 3-0 overall and are 2-0 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, while the Muskies fall to 0-3, 0-2.
ONU scored the first seven goals of the game and were not threatened after leading 10-2 at halftime.
Marous scored four of Northern's first seven goals and had his 22nd career Hat Trick with 1:37 left in the first quarter.
He also had six ground balls in the contest.
Ohio Northern out-shot Muskingum 60-22 and had 56 ground balls to 41 for the Muskies.
The Polar Bears will return to action on Wednesday with a 7 pm contest against Capital in a game that will not count in the OAC Regular Season standings.
