Ohio State
Michigan
Big Ten Season Opens This Weekend vs. Michigan, Michigan State
9/13/2023 9:47:00 AM | General, Field Hockey
Ohio State hosts defending Big Ten Tournament champion Michigan on Friday
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The conference field hockey season starts in a big way this weekend, as the No. 17-ranked Buckeyes host eighth-ranked Michigan on Friday at 4 p.m. and then travel to Michigan State to face the Spartans on Sunday at noon.
The game against Michigan can be seen live on BTN+ while Sunday's matchup in East Lansing will air on BTN. Admission to Friday's game is free with parking available in the lots surrounding the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Brendan Gulick and Tyler Danburg will be on the call Friday while Dean Linke and Jeanne Shin-Cooper are slated for the BTN broadcast on Sunday.
The Basics
No. 17 Ohio State vs. No. 8 Michigan // Friday, Sept. 15 // 4 p.m. // Buckeye Varsity Field
Watch Live: BTN+ // Live Stats // Ohio State Schedule & Results // Michigan Schedule & Results
No. 17 Ohio State vs. Michigan State // Sunday, Sept. 17 // Noon // Buckeye Varsity Field
Watch Live: BTN+ // Live Stats // Ohio State Schedule & Results // Michigan Schedule & Results
Promotions This Weekend
Friday will be Ohio State's annual Military Appreciation game. In addition, the Block O student organization will be in attendance along with the marching band.
Briefly on the Buckeyes
- Sunday's 6-1 win over Stanford improved Ohio State's record to 6-1 on the season. The Buckeyes are off to their best seven-game start since 2006 when they were 7-0.
- The top statistical producer on one of the nation's top offenses is senior forward Makenna Webster, who has 20 points (eight goals, four assists). She's scored at least one goal in five of seven games.
- Freshman Brenna Bough has 10 points, including a pair of goals in her last outing on Sunday vs. Stanford. All four of her goals this season have come in the last three games.
- Four other players – Julie Rodijk, Leanne Bough, Hallie Brost and Cameryn Forgash – have multiple goals this season. In all, 11 different players have scored for the Buckeyes, who have the nation's No. 6-ranked scoring offense (3.86 goals per game).
- The defense is a senior-laden unit, led by Delaney Lawler, who on Friday will play in her 78th career game. She's supported by senior Sarah Richards and Ali Gordon as well as senior goalkeeper Abby Danson.
- Danson will play in her 49th career game on Friday and this season has a career-best 1.04 goals-against average to accompany her .759 save percentage. The defense in front of her is allowing an average of just 6.5 shots on goal per game.
History vs. Michigan
- The defending Big Ten Tournament champions, Michigan is 4-2 on the season and has won four consecutive games following an 0-2 start.
- Over the last six seasons – since 2017 – four of the seven games between the Buckeyes and Wolverines have been decided by one goal.
- Of those five, three have gone to overtime; the 2018 contest decided in double overtime.
- The last time the two teams played in Columbus – on Oct. 3, 2021 – Michigan won 1-0 on a goal 1:21 into the third quarter.
- Ohio State last win over Michigan came on Sept. 23, 2011 – a 2-1 triumph at Buckeye Varsity Field.
History vs. Michigan State
- Like the games against Michigan, Ohio State's series with Michigan State is full of closely-contested contests.
- Last year, Ohio State won 2-1 in double overtime on goal by Emma Goldean that was assisted by Delaney Lawler. The Buckeyes outshot MSU 15-4 and had a 9-1 edge in penalty corners.
- In 2021 – Ohio State's last trip to East Lansing – the Buckeyes won 4-3. In all, Ohio State has won six consecutive games over Michigan State with its last loss coming in 2017.
This Is B1G
- The Big Ten boasts four teams ranked in the top 10 of this week's NFHCA national poll, including the No. 1 team in the nation (Iowa).
- Ohio State is one of seven Big Ten teams in the poll, checking in at No. 17, which is up one spot from last week. Overall, six of the top 12 spots belong to Big Ten squads.
- The Buckeyes have four regular season Big Ten games scheduled at home and all four of them will come against teams currently ranked in the top-12 of this week's NFHCA poll.
Numbers To Know
3.91: Ohio State ranks No. 6 nationally in scoring average at 3.91 goals per game. Only twice this year has it been held to two goals or less in a game.
5th: Makenna Webster ranks fifth in the country in goals scored with eight. Additionally, her average of 2.86 points per game is good for seventh nationally. Webster has scored at least one goal in five of seven games this season (Ohio State is 5-0 in those contests).
40+: Nine players on Ohio State's roster have played in 40 or more regular season games. They are: Delaney Lawler (77), Leanne Bough (75), Hallie Brost (44), Camryn Forgash (40), Claudia Thomas (44), Sarah Richards (48), Abby Danson (48) and Megan McKenna (59).
46: Friday will be the 46th career start for goalie Abby Danson. Her career totals include 177 saves, a 1.65 goals-against average and .705 save percentage.Â
