Ohio State
Detroit
No. 17 Buckeyes Post 14-8 Win over Detroit Mercy
2/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Feb. 11, 2017
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 17-ranked Ohio State men’s lacrosse team moved to 2-0 on the year, downing Detroit Mercy, 14-8, Saturday inside Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The teams were tied at six in the second quarter but the Buckeyes went on a six-goal run to take command, holding the Titans scoreless for nearly 19 minutes.
The game was the second in a four-game homestand to open the season for the Buckeyes. The squad will host UMass at noon Saturday, followed by a game vs. Jacksonville Feb. 25.
Quoting Head Coach Nick Myers
“It was a slow start but I like the way we got after it in the second and certainly the third quarter. There’s a lot of work to be done; it’s early and I’m sure everyone is feeling that way to a degree. I like the physicality we played with today, and the fact we were able to settle into the game in the third quarter.”
Postgame comments from Coach Myers and Tyler Pfister after the 14-8 win over Detroit. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/wUkjLzZfWp
— Ohio State Men’s LAX (@OhioState_MLAX) February 11, 2017
In the First Quarter …
The Buckeyes’ Lukas Buckley scored just 29 seconds into the game before the Titans tied it at 13:16. Ohio State then went on a four-goal run to take a 5-1 lead. John Kelly scored at 10:53 to put the Buckeyes ahead, followed by a goal from Buckley at 7:31. Tre Leclaire and Johnny Pearson scored man-up goals two minutes apart, both assisted by Colin Chell, at 5:07 and 3:07. Detroit Mercy responded with back-to-back goals in just over a minute for a 6-3 game. Leclaire notched his second goal of the quarter, assisted by classmate Ryan Terefenko on a fast break, with 47 seconds remaining but a Titan man up goal with four seconds left made it a two-goal game (6-4). Shots were 10-8 in favor of Ohio State in the quarter.
In the Second Quarter …
The Titans scored the first two goals of the second quarter, at 13:28 (man up) and 6:01 to tie the game at six.
In the final 3:35 of the quarter the Buckeyes scored three goals to take a 9-6 lead into halftime. Johnny Pearson scored, assisted by John Kelly, at 3:35 to put the Buckeyes ahead, followed by a Tyler Pfister goal at 2:25. Lukas Buckley set up Eric Fannell for a goal at 1:42.
Ohio State outshot Detroit Mercy, 9-5, in the quarter, with the Titan goalie making four saves.
In the Third Quarter
John Kelly scored, assisted by Johnny Pearson, early in the quarter. At 11:26 Colin Chell scored a goal of his own, converting a man-up chance, and Tyler Pfister netted his second of the game at 10:29. Detroit Mercy ended the Buckeyes’ run at 2:07. The Buckeyes held the Titans scoreless for 18:54 between the second and third quarters. The teams combined for 12 shots in quarter, with Ohio State ahead 8-4. The Buckeyes carried a 12-7 lead into the quarter break.
In the Fourth Quarter …
At 7:01 of the fourth Buckley completed his hat trick, assisted by Fannell. Jack Jasinski scored unassisted at 1:48 and the final goal came 20 seconds later by the Titans’ Alec Gilhooly.
The Titans outshot the Buckeyes 8-7 in the quarter and the goalies combined for seven saves. Buckeye goalie Tom Carey made three stops in the quarter.
WATCH: Highlights from the Buckeyes’ 14-8 win over Detroit Mercy today. #GoBucks https://t.co/InJ2LXbvtT
— Ohio State Men’s LAX (@OhioState_MLAX) February 11, 2017
In the Cage
The Buckeyes outshot the Titans, 34-25, in the game. Buckeye senior Tom Carey had six saves in 59:42. Nick Doyle closed out the game and did not face a shot. Detroit Mercy’s Jason Weber had 11 saves in all 60 minutes.
Buckeye Scoring Leaders
Lukas Buckley notched the first hat trick and four point game of his Buckeye career. Johnny Pearson, Tyler Pfister John Kelly and Tre Leclaire all scored twice, with Pearson adding an assist for a three-point day. Eric Fannell had a goal and an assist for a multiple point game.
Faceoffs and Groundballs
On the strength of a 9-1 first quarter, the Titans had the faceoff advantage for the game, 15-10. Buckeye senior Jake Withers won nine faceoffs, while Christian Feliziani had one win.
Ohio State won the groundball battle, 31-23. Ryan Terefenko led the Buckeyes with four, while Colin Chell, Tom Carey, and Withers all had three.
In the game, Withers picked up the 200th groundball of his Buckeye career. He is just the second Buckeye in program history to have at least 200 groundballs.
Erik Evans had three of the Buckeyes’ seven caused turnovers in the win.
