ATHENS, OHIO — Ohio St. snapped a two-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Penn St. on Friday night, with Tanner Creech's 76th-minute goal providing the decisive moment in a tightly contested Big Ten matchup. The Buckeyes' breakthrough came after a scoreless first half and most of the second half, finally breaking through when Creech finished a chance set up by Ashton Bilow. The result marked Ohio St.'s first win in three matches as the Buckeyes look to stabilize their tournament resume.
Creech's goal came at a critical juncture late in the match, ending a frustrating stretch for Ohio St. that had generated numerous chances without finding the back of the net. The forward capitalized on Bilow's setup to give the hosts their only goal of the evening. Penn St.'s defense had held firm for most of the contest, but the Nittany Lions couldn't maintain their resolve in the final stages, leaving the door open for Ohio St. to steal three points.
The first half unfolded as a cagey affair with both teams testing each other without committing fully to attack. Luciano Pechota and Thomas Gilej fired off attempts for Ohio St. early, while Van Danielson created problems for the Buckeyes' backline. Penn St. earned two corner kicks in the opening 15 minutes, signaling their willingness to apply pressure, but neither side could generate a clear-cut opportunity. The midfield battle remained competitive throughout, with neither team gaining decisive control of possession.
Ohio St. made multiple adjustments before halftime, replacing Will Arnesen in the 28th minute and then making a trio of changes at the 35-minute mark that included removing both Ashton Bilow and Michael Ndiweni. Penn St. countered with their own substitutions, pulling Ben Madore from the field at the same time. These tactical shifts suggested both coaches sensed the need for fresh energy heading into the second half.
The second half began with Ohio St. pressing forward, as Michael Ndiweni tested Penn St.'s goalkeeper early after the restart. The Buckeyes continued generating chances, with Tanner Creech and Aaron Hurge combining to create problems down the stretch. Penn St. remained organized defensively but struggled to generate sustained attacking play, managing just two shots on goal for the entire match compared to Ohio St.'s five.
As the match entered its final 15 minutes, Ohio St. ramped up the intensity with multiple attempts in quick succession. Ashton Bilow hit the woodwork in the 75th minute before Creech converted the rebound just seconds later, finally breaking the deadlock. Penn St. pushed back in search of an equalizer, but Ohio St.'s defense held firm to secure the clean sheet.
Statistically, Ohio St. dominated the shot count with 16 attempts to Penn St.'s 11, though the Nittany Lions' goalkeeper made four saves compared to Ohio St.'s two. Both teams earned six and five corner kicks respectively, with neither able to capitalize on set-piece opportunities until Creech's late breakthrough. Penn St. received two yellow cards for unsporting conduct, including one to Joseph Sheridan late in the match.
The victory provides Ohio St. (6-9) with momentum after consecutive defeats to Maryland and Washington, though the Buckeyes remain in a precarious position for NCAA Tournament consideration. Penn St. (5-8-3) has now lost three consecutive matches and faces an uphill climb to improve their postseason prospects. The Nittany Lions' defensive effort kept them in the contest, but the inability to create attacking chances ultimately proved costly.
Ohio St. travels to Northwestern next Friday, while Penn St. hosts Michigan in their next conference matchup. Both teams will look to build on this result—or bounce back from it—as the regular season enters its final stretch with tournament implications on the line.