Minnesota Scene: Gophers lose to Ohio State in women's soccer

The Gophers women's soccer team lost 2-1 to No. 19 Ohio State on Friday night at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.

The Buckeyes (13-3-1, 8-2) clinched a tie for the Big Ten title with the win and Penn State's 2-2 draw. Nikki Walts gave OSU a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute on her team's first shot on goal from about 30 yards out. Sammy Edwards made it 2-0 in the 15th minute on her team-high eighth goal of the season.

Minnesota (10-4-3, 6-3-1) could have moved ahead of the Buckeyes by one point with a win (worth three points). Instead the Gophers were held scoreless until Julianna Gernes got a goal, her eighth of the season, on a penalty kick in the 57th minute.

"We are certainly disappointed," Gophers coach Stefanie Golan said, "but we are really happy with the way we responded in the second half.

"We were throwing everything we could at them. We changed offensive formations up numerous times and we had a couple looks that just didn't find their way in."

The Gophers' Emily Heslin had a free kick from just outside the box in the 88th minute, but it went high.

Kailee Sharp made a career-high five saves for the Gophers, who had won six of their past seven matches. Minnesota had 18 shots to OSU's nine, but only three were on goal.

• Sophomore Stefan Milicevic of the Gophers upset second-seeded Joe Salazar of Arkansas 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (4) in Round 3 of the ITA Central Region Championships at the University of Minnesota's Baseline Tennis Center. Four teammates also reached Saturday's round of 32 in singles. Milicevic also was on one of Minnesota's three doubles teams that won in Round 2 to remain in the championship bracket.

• The Gophers broke ground on their new outdoor track and field stadium on the East Bank. It is scheduled to open in September.