Ohio State
Cleveland State
Buckeyes Post 12-4 Win over Cleveland State
3/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
March 11, 2017
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s lacrosse team improved to 7-0 this season with a 12-4 win over Cleveland State (2-6) Saturday afternoon in Ohio Stadium.
The game opened a busy stretch for the Buckeyes, who will face Towson on the road at 7 p.m. Tuesday before returning to Columbus for a game vs. No. 4 Denver at 5 p.m. Sunday in Ohio Stadium. The game vs. the Pioneers will be televised by ESPNU.
Withers Sets Ohio State Groundball Record
Senior Jake Withers’ third groundball of the game was a record breaker, as he became the all-time leader in groundballs in program history with 239. Withers passed Anthony Kelly, who had 238 from 2000-03. A Buckeye captain this year, Withers won all four faceoffs he took in the game and had three groundballs.
Coach Myers and Jake Withers, who set the OSU career GB record today, talked after the Buckeyes’ win. https://t.co/WHQ2Rvw3lH #GoBucks
— Ohio State Men’s LAX (@OhioState_MLAX) March 12, 2017
In the First Quarter …
Ohio State opened the game with the first three goals. Tre Leclaire scored back-to-back goals, followed by a man-up goal from Austin Shanks at 6:59. Redshirt freshman Lukas Buckley assisted on the second Leclaire tally. After a Cleveland State goal at 4:31, Jack Jasinski set up senior Johnny Pearson for a goal, his 10th of the year, at 2:13. Ohio State outshot Cleveland State, 7-5, in the quarter and each team’s goalie had one save.
In the Second Quarter …
Ohio State scored the only two goals of the second quarter for a 6-1 halftime lead. Tre Leclaire completed a hat trick at 14:16 and at 5:15 senior Eric Fannell found Lukas Buckley for a man-up tally. The Buckeyes attempted 11 shots while holding the Vikings to three. The CSU goalie made three saves in the quarter.
In the Third Quarter …
The teams traded goals in the first five minutes of the third, with senior JT Blubaugh scoring for the Buckeyes at 12:19 and Danny Tesler converting for Cleveland State at 11:21.
The Buckeyes scored the next three, with junior Hank Bethke tallying at 10:13, senior John Kelly finding the back of the cage at 8:24 and Austin Seiple notching his first of the year at 5:48. Cleveland State outshot the Buckeyes 11-8 in the quarter, with Tom Carey making two saves in the Ohio State cage.
In the Fourth Quarter …
Each team scored twice in the fourth quarter. Austin Seiple had his second of the day at 10:12, with freshman Nick Musci tallying the third goal of his career at 7:54. CSU’s goals came at 8:59 and 1:13 for the 12-4 final.
The Buckeyes had 11 shot attempts in the stanza, with the Vikings taking nine. Each team had five saves in the quarter.
In the Cage
The Buckeyes outshot the Vikings, 37-28. Redshirt senior Tom Carey played the first 52:06 for the Buckeyes and made seven saves on 10 shots. Senior Nick Doyle had two saves on three shots in 7:54.
CSU goalie Caleb Espinoza had 10 saves in all 60 minutes.
Faceoffs, Groundballs and More
The Buckeyes, who won eight of 17 faceoffs in the game, had the edge in groundballs, 25-17. Tom Carey led the squad with four groundballs, while Jake Withers, Freddy Freibott and Bo Lori each had three.
The Buckeyes stopped Cleveland State on all six man-up chances.
On the Offense
? Tre Leclaire had the second hat trick of his career. He has at least one point in each of his first seven collegiate games, with multiple points in six outings. He has a team-high goals and is second with 17 points.
? Austin Seiple had the first two-goal game of his Buckeye career.
? JT Blubaugh extended his goal scoring streak to five with a tally. He has a goal in all but one game this season.
? Redshirt freshman Lukas Buckley had the fourth multiple point outing of his Ohio State career with a goal and an assist.
? Eric Fannell, who leads the Buckeyes with 12 assists and 20 points, had a helper and extended his point streak to six.
? Ohio State was 2-for-6 on man-up chances in the game and is 14-for-30 (.467) this year.
