COLUMBUS , Ohio – The Ohio Dominican men's soccer team won a moral victory on Saturday at Panther Field as they played a man down for the majority of the game as they played the unbeaten Olivet Nazarene Tigers to a 2-2 draw.   The Panthers were forced to play short handed after a quick red card in the 16^th minute of the first half.

Although the Panthers were playing a man down they rallied together to score the games first goal when senior captain Joey Held (Pataskala, OH) beat Olivet keeper Matt Walker on a direct kick from just outside the penalty box.   The goal was Held's second of the season.   Olivet answered just second later as Marcio Das Neves found teammate Ian Perrotte in front of the net to tie the game at one.   The Panthers got another short handed goal in the 26^th minute of the first half as Held hit the cross bar on his initial shot and freshman Felix Darko (Reynoldsburg, OH) got a head on the rebound giving the lead back to the home Panthers.  more

The unbeaten Tigers wouldn't go away easily as they picked up their attack and forced the action in the second half.   The aggression finally paid dividends as Das Neves found the net himself on a direct kick from the 20 beating ODU keeper Eric Pfeifer (Westerville , OH).  

The game would continue to be a physical struggle down the stretch as fatigue set in for both teams.   Neither team could find the net in regulation and went to a first of two 10 minute overtime.   After the first overtime neither team could gain an advantage forcing extra time.   With 110 minutes played the game remained tied at two giving the Panthers their first tie of the season.

"I give our guys a lot of credit," said head coach Willy Merrick.   "A lot of teams would have laid down after the red card, but we fought back and had opportunities to win."

ODU moves to 2-1-1 on the year and will return to action next Saturday, September 13^th as they travel to Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania to take on Point Park College in their conference opener.   Game time is set for 4 p.m.     

CANTON , Ohio – The #14 ranked Ohio Dominican men's soccer team saw their share of ups and downs over the weekend. The Panthers struggled on Friday afternoon against the 20^th ranked Mid-Continent Cougars, dropping a rough 1-0 encounter. On Saturday, the men took out their frustrations on a very good University of Cumberland team, dominating in the 3-0 win.                                                                       

On Friday, the Panthers, playing in the Subway/Comfort Inn Walsh Invite, battled against a very physical team. Mid-Continent used a goal in the 38^th minute to gain the advantage, and held on in the second half to pull the upset over the Panthers.  more

Saturday afternoon saw an Ohio Dominican team in their element as they saw contributions from all their seniors in the 3-0 win. Ryan Nelson (Fairfield, OH) scored the games first goal in the 22^nd minute on a through ball from freshman Felix Darko (Reynoldsburg, OH). Fellow senior Jason Hale (Powell, OH) finished off a corner kick offering from senior Ryan Lynch (Westerville, OH) in the 28^th minute to give the Panthers a two goal advantage mid-way through the opening half. Scott Shrewsbury (Huber Heights, OH) scored the Panthers third and final goal in the 58^th minute to earn the win.

Senior Eric Pfeifer (Westerville, OH) was exceptional behind the pipes for the Panthers making six saves to earn his first shutout of the season.

The Panthers, 2-1 on the season, return home on Saturday, September 6th when they welcome Olivet Nazarene University to Panther Field for a non-conference battle. Kick off is set for 7 p.m.

COLUMBUS , Ohio – The Ohio Dominican women's soccer team dropped its first game of the year, an overtime thriller to NCAA DII University of Indianapolis, 2-1 on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers played tough defensively the entire 90 minutes, but gave up the early overtime goal in the loss.

ODU battled the elements early in the opening half, but it was the Greyhounds who were the aggressor in the opening 20 minutes of play.   The Panthers found their stride and created scoring opportunities but each were averted by U of I goalkeeper Abby Tracy.   ODU and Indianapolis found themselves scoreless at the half, 0-0.  more

Ohio Dominican started the second half the way Indy began the game forcing the action and quickly earned the games first goal. Marie Fudacz (Toledo, OH) scored her first collegiate goal in the 53^rd minute to give the Panthers the lead. Looking to hold on, the Panther defense held strong until the 77^th minute when Alli Opfer headed home a corner kick cross from Ashley Seehase to knot the game 1-1. Neither team could find the back of the net as the end of the second half concluded.

In the opening minutes of the first overtime period, the Greyhounds Ashley Seehase slipped in front of the Panther defense and knocked home a cross from teammate Jamie Huebner to give Indianapolis the win on the road.

Freshman Becky Williams (Parma Heights, OH) was solid in goal, making five saves in her second college game.

Ohio Dominican, now 1-1, travels to Azusa, California on Friday, September 5th to take on Azusa Pacific University. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. (PST) 

COLUMBUS , Ohio – The Ohio Dominican volleyball team slipped to 3-5 over the weekend as they dropped four straight matches at the Taylor Trojan Challenge in Upland , Indiana .   The tournament hosted by Taylor University featured some of the top teams in the NAIA in the Midwest .

Ohio Dominican got off to a slow start as they fell in straight sets on the opening night of the tournament to host Taylor and the University of St. Francis (Ill.).   ODU dropped their first match to the Trojans 25-18, 25-18, 25-17.   The road didn't get much easier for the Panthers as they fell in the nightcap 25-23, 25-21, 25-19.     more

As the matches picked up on day two the Panthers volleyball team still suffering from the early losses struggled to find their rhythm as they fell to Illinois Tech and Trevecca Nazarene in five games.  

"We just couldn't get into a good flow of the game," said head coach Sandy Rowley.   "The coaches saw some good things out of our young players, but we haven't found that killer instinct yet."

The Panthers were led by sophomore outside hitter Cassie Vome (Mason , OH; pictured) who collected a total of 38 kills, five aces and 54 digs on the weekend.   Vome averaged 2.38 kills and 3.38 digs.   Fellow sophomore Ashley Croy (Ottawa , OH) added 34 kills and had 11 blocks on the weekend.   Junior setter Cassie Schroeder (Columbus Grove , OH) added 63 assists in the four losses.

Ohio Dominican will take a slight break and return to action on September 13^th when they host Houghton College and Malone College in a conference tri-match.   The games will begin at 11 a.m. in Alumni Hall on the campus of Ohio Dominican University .