Ohio State defender Nette-Nina Hiltunen (6) passes the ball. The Buckeyes beat Kansas 1-0 on Aug. 20, 2026. Credit: Cassandra D'Angelo | Sports Photo Editor.
In the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Thursday night, Buckeye fans got to witness not one, but two home openers.
In a doubleheader, Ohio State’s women’s and men’s soccer teams each kicked off its home schedule with its first wins of the season.?
The connection between the two teams was visible even before Ohio State’s men’s game began, as players on the Buckeyes men’s team paced around the track surrounding the field cheering on their program counterparts who competed in the first game of the night.
“We’re very close with our men’s team, so some of them [were] out here supporting us, and a lot of us are going to stay out and support them,” forward Amanda Schlueter said. “It’s a great atmosphere for all the fans, and it’s really fun for us.”?
Ohio State’s women’s team defeats Kansas 1-0
When Lori Walker-Hock began her college head-coaching career at 24, she was tasked with building the University of Kansas women’s soccer program from the ground up.?
More than three decades later, Walker-Hock found herself on the other side of the field, leading No. 19 Ohio State past the No. 12 Kansas program she helped start in the Buckeyes’ 1-0 win in their 2026 home-opening.
“I was happy that we opened our season with having [Kansas] here,” Walker-Hock said. “It’s special to stay connected to that program.”
The Buckeyes took the lead quickly when Schlueter found the back of the net in the 39th minute.
Ohio State recorded 12 shots, including six on goal, but struggled to capitalize.
Schlueter, a team captain and the Buckeyes’ leading scorer last season with 11 goals, said the score created a major momentum shift.?
“We were on the attack a lot, and we had been creating chances, and we hadn’t put one away yet, and we just needed that to keep pushing forward, and we wanted to go get more,” Schlueter said. “We didn’t today, but we definitely could have, and so that’s just something for us to take forward and keep moving forward with.”
Walker-Hock said Schlueter scoring sets a positive tone for the team.
“Good things happen for us, and so making sure that we’re getting her in good positions is always important,” Walker-Hock said. “That’s a tough team. The way that they play, it’s a hard style to play against. I thought we did a nice job of controlling the game.”
Although the Buckeyes won, Walker-Hock wants to see the team remain aggressive in possession while limiting mistakes in their own half of the field.
“There [were] too many giveaways,” Walker-Hock said. “We want to not be a team that, because of our own errors and mistakes, we’re giving opponents the ball in dangerous space.”
As blue fireworks shot off celebrating the women’s team’s win, the men’s team took the pitch for another 90 minutes of play.?
Ohio State men’s team defeats Virginia Tech 1-0?
By the time Ohio State men’s soccer senior forward Isaiah Chisolm stepped onto the pitch, the Buckeyes already had one win under their belt.?
Now, it was the men’s turn to complete the sweep in the doubleheader.
Although Ohio State controlled much of the first half against Virginia Tech, outshooting the Hokies 7-2, the game was scoreless at halftime.
Chisolm made the difference in the 58th minute, off a corner kick from freshman midfielder Jack Wayne.
“It was a scrappy one between me and the defender, but [Wayne] served a beautiful ball back post, and I was there,” Chisolm said. “It was a great play from all the guys making their runs and getting me open.”
Head coach Brian Maisonneuve said Chisolm, a transfer from Kentucky, made an impact beyond scoring.
“He’s always the outlet that we need,” Maisonneuve said. “Whenever we’re in trouble, we just get [the ball] near him, and he’s such a good presence up there that he holds it for us.”
Chisolm said Ohio State’s ability to remain patient despite its early missed opportunities came from trusting that one would eventually fall.
“We just have to trust the process,” Chisolm said. “Our coaching staff does a great job of instilling the belief that we’re going to win at the end of the day into us.”
Maisonneuve said the atmosphere surrounding the doubleheader was part of what made the night stand out.
“It was really vibrant,” Maisonneuve said. “Both teams had great crowds. I love the energy and everything that was there, so it was a lot of fun.”
