COLUMBUS, Ohio – One of the strengths of Ohio State’s team will be the talented unit of defenders.
The Buckeyes return a pair of starters on the back line in senior Talani Barnett and sophomore Sydney Jones. Graduate Maddy Lowe also brings a veteran presence as will graduate transfer Olivia Sensky. The rest of the group is comprised of potential breakout stars.
Barnett has been a stalwart on the Buckeye back line for four seasons. She has appeared in 69 games which is the most of any player on the team. She has a pair of goals and three assists in her career. Jones started all 20 games last season and was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. She was also invited to the USA U20 Training Camp this summer.
Lowe has played in 50 games over parts of three seasons but missed last year after a knee injury in the preseason. Sensky played the last four seasons at Ohio and didn’t miss a game over the past three seasons. She earned first team All-MAC honors in 2021 and was part of 24 shutouts and 34 wins over her four years as a Bobcat.
Redshirt-sophomore Nina LeFlore also suffered a season-ending injury during the preseason last year but rehabbed well and looks to be back to form. Junior Caitlin Foley appeared in eight games last fall in her first season as a Buckeye, getting the starting nod in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournament games.
The defensive newcomers will all make in impact this season. Mirann Gacioch was a standout for Western New York Flash Academy and her speed at outside back will make her a threat. Brooke Otto is from nearby Centerburg, Ohio and was one of the top players in the ECNL for Ohio Premier. She defends well in the center of the field and already has a spring under her belt as she joined the program in January of 2022. Sophia Louder is a versatile back from Liberty Township, Ohio. She has the ability to play multiple positions and will give Walker-Hock significant versatility on the back line.
Assistant coach Gavin MacLeod’s thoughts on the defenders
Talani Barnett
Talani is one of the most talented central defenders in the country and returns to lead the team this season. An All-Big Ten defender, Talani is a threat on both sides of the ball. She has the ability to read the game and break-up opposition attacks, as well as the vision and technical attributes to set off the Buckeye offense. After a 2021 campaign where she played all but 4 minutes of the season, Talani is set to play an integral role in her final season as a…
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