Ohio State
9-4, 2-1B1G
Michigan
9-5, 1-3B1G
Buckeyes Post Road Win over No. 14 Wolverines, 9-7
4/8/2022 11:10:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women's lacrosse team scored the game's first four goals en route to a 9-7 win at No. 14 Michigan Friday in U-M Lacrosse Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Buckeyes improve to 9-4 on the year and are 2-1 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are 9-5 and 1-3 in league play. Ohio State has won three straight vs. Michigan.
Ohio State led 4-0 after the first quarter and 5-2 at halftime. The Buckeyes maintained the lead through the end of the third quarter, 7-5, and each team scored twice in the fourth for the 9-7 final. Chloe Johnson and Jamie Level each had a hat trick for the Buckeyes. Johnson had five draw controls, passing the century mark for draw controls this season and extending her program single-season record to 104. Sophie Baez had two assists and now has 100 career points in the Scarlet and Gray. Lindsay Epstein tallied twice, had four ground balls, two draw controls and three caused turnovers in the victory.
The Short Story
The Buckeyes opened the scoring at 8:54 on a Lindsay Epstein goal before Chloe Johnson notched three straight for a 4-0 Ohio State lead after the opening 15 minutes. Goalie Regan Alexander made five stops for the Buckeyes in the first. Michigan scored the first two goals of the second but Jamie Level tallied late for a 5-2 Ohio State advantage at the half.
Michigan scored three of the first four goals of the third quarter to draw within one (6-5) with 3:41 left in the third. Level notched back-to-back goals, at 1:30 of the third and 11:07 of the fourth, to regain a three-goal lead for Ohio State. The teams traded goals, with UM scoring at 8:56 and Nicole Ferrara tallying for the Buckeyes at 3:16, for a 9-6 game. The Wolverines drew within two one more time with 1:36 left but could get no closer.
Up Next
The Buckeyes will host No. 9 Maryland at noon next Sunday, April 17, in Ohio Stadium. Admission and parking are free. BTN will televise the contest.
Buckeyes with the road win over the Wolverines!
FINAL: Ohio State 9, No. 14 TTUN 7#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/xWQtsg1O3d
— Ohio State Women's LAX (@OhioStateWLAX) April 9, 2022
How it Happened
- The Buckeyes shut out the Wolverines for the first 17:22, taking a 4-0 lead. Ohio State had an 11-5 shot advantage in the opening 15 minutes and the UM goalie had six saves.
- Lindsay Epstein opened the scoring at 8:54 of the first quarter with a free position goal.
- Chloe Johnson then notched a hat trick, with goals at 5:23, 3:58 and 3:14. Sophie Baez assisted on Johnson's first goal, with Caly O'Brien setting up the third. Ohio State led 4-0 after the opening quarter.
- Michigan scored the first two goals of the second quarter, at 12:38 and 10:55.
- The score remained with the Buckeyes ahead 4-2 until 3:09 remained in the first half, when Jamie Level tallied unassisted. Ohio State carried a 5-2 lead into halftime.
- The teams traded goals early in the fourth quarter, with Michigan tallying at 11:50 and Epstein answering at 10:57, assisted by Maura McGregor.
- Michigan's Claire Galvin tallied the next two, at 8:50 and 3:41, making it a one-goal game for the first time since the opening quarter (6-5).
- Level scored unassisted with 1:30 left in the third quarter and at 11:07 of the fourth quarter to push the Buckeye lead back to three (8-5).
- Michigan drew within two at 8:56. With 3:16 remaining, Baez found Nicole Ferrara in front and she was able to convert for a 9-6 Ohio State lead.
- The Wolverines tallied on a free position shot with 1:36 left, again cutting the Ohio State advantage to two (9-7), but the Buckeyes shut out Michigan the rest of the way.
- The teams combined for just six shots in the fourth quarter, with UM ahead, 4-2.
- For the game, the Buckeyes outshot the Wolverines, 24-21. Each goalie made 10 saves. Alexander had five stops in the first quarter, three in the second and two in the fourth for the Buckeyes.
- Ohio State caused eight turnovers, led by Epstein with three. She also had a team-best four ground balls, with Alexander, Level and Cowley each picking up two. Ohio State had the advantage in ground balls, 14-10.
- Johnson had five draw controls, with Level and Epstein each posting two.
Noting the Buckeyes
- Johnson had her fourth career hat trick and third in a row. She moved her program record for single-season draw controls to 104 and remains in third place in the career record book with 189.
- Ferrara moved her point streak to 18; she has 39 goals, 20 assists and 49 points during her scoring streak. She leads the Buckeyes with 17 assists and 40 points.
- Epstein had her fourth career game with three or more goals. She is third on the team with 21 goals and 27 points, all career highs.
- Baez now has 100 points in 53 games in the Scarlet and Gray, with 64 goals and 36 assists. She has two-plus assists in each of the last four games and 12 on the year, ranking second on the squad.
- Level marked her fourth game with three-plus goals as a Buckeye and her seventh with three or more points. She is fourth on the team with 19 goals and tied with Baez for fourth with 26 points each.
- Alexander had double-digit saves for the third time this season. She has 106 saves on the year.
- Epstein has two-plus goals in each of the last five games and 10 games this year. She has notched a career-high 23 goals and 29 points this year.
Chloe Johnson's hat trick has helped the Buckeyes to a 4-0 lead after the first quarter against the Wolverines.
Q1 Stats
Shots: OSU 11-5
GB: OSU 4-3
DC: UM 3-2
Saves: UM 6-5
Clears: OSU 5/5, UM 3/5
TO: UM 5-3#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/u7F7uVet0Q— Ohio State Women's LAX (@OhioStateWLAX) April 9, 2022
