When Ohio State faced Michigan on a brisk Midwestern evening, things were off to a slow start. Nearly 10 minutes in and leading just 1-0, the Buckeyes were desperate for a spark.

Luckily for Ohio State, senior midfielder Chloë Johnson emerged in highlight reel fashion. With just over five minutes left in the first quarter, she crept into the eight-meter arc to score — and repeated the feat two more times over the next three minutes.

Suddenly, in large part due to Johnson’s efforts, the Buckeyes found themselves in complete control. The Wolverines came within one goal later on in the matchup but never managed to even the score. With Friday’s victory, Ohio State has won three straight over its biggest rival and moved to an impressive 9-4 on the season.

“Playing Michigan as a rival school is a monumental part of being a Buckeye,” Johnson said. “It’s even greater beating them, and doing it as a team is a great feeling.”

Over the past few months, Johnson has emerged as one of Ohio State’s biggest threats all over the field, especially off the draw. Her 104 draw controls — which averages out for ninth nationally in draws per game — are a marked increase from last season’s 45, when she split draw duties more frequently.

Her leadership on the circle has been especially instrumental for the Buckeyes this season. Coach Amy Bokker said Johnson has worked hard to “command her unit” and keep fellow circle players in line. As a result, there’s been a strong sense of buy-in and trust among Ohio State’s players on the draw circle this season.

A key part of Johnson’s improvement this season has been a greater sense of confidence. She credited her teammates and coaches for pushing her throughout the past year and believing in her as playing a big role in her success.

“They put confidence within me to do what they need me to do [and] what is needed for our team and for us to be successful,” Johnson said. “It’s definitely helped me blossom as the season has gone by, knowing how confident they are in me and [that] they trust me.”

She is a “humble and quiet” leader. Johnson isn’t “overly vocal,” Bokker said, but her confidence, competitive nature and “bursts of energy” set her apart on the field. 

Now, Johnson has her Buckeyes clicking at the perfect time. Ohio State is in the midst of its best season since 2015 and ranks third in the Big Ten. The program’s only losses have come against teams ranked at one point or another.

Since Johnson first took the field in spring 2019, the Buckeyes have been all over the place. This year, they’re coming off a 4-9 season — in part because they could only play Big Ten competition in 2021. She said a key difference between Ohio State in 2022 and its past squads has been a sense of cohesion. In the past, the Buckeyes may have had one strong unit, while others struggled. This season, however, Ohio State has been successfully clicking all over the field.

Still, the unranked Buckeyes are playing with an underdog mentality, which Johnson said has only made the team more competitive. Ohio State may not be constantly featured on SportsCenter or make consistently flashy plays, but it’s gritty, she said, which separates it from the rest.

Bokker, in the midst of her most successful season with the Buckeyes yet, also has no complaints about being seen as the underdog.

“We’re a little under the radar right now and playing [in] that underdog [mindset],” Bokker said. “I like it, and I like the consistent work ethic of our team.”