Ohio State
1-0
Utah
0-1
Strong Defense, Timely Scoring Lift Buckeyes Past Utah, 11-8
2/3/2024 3:13:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Ohio State held Utah to just two goals over the final 41 minutes of the game
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State's 2024 men's lacrosse season started with some familiar faces making big plays on defense and newcomers scoring big goals at important times. The combination led to an 11-8 victory over Utah, the defending ASUN champions, on Saturday afternoon at the Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium.
The Short Story
After falling behind 6-2 early in the second quarter, Ohio State (1-0) held the Utes (0-1) to just two goals over the final 41 minutes of regulation. In that time, the Buckeyes offense was sparked by Gannon Matthews, a transfer from Cleveland State, who finished his Buckeye debut with five goals and an assist.
Ohio State's defensive effort began with senior captain Connor Cmiel, who had three caused turnovers and four ground balls. Defensive midfielder Eli Fisher also caused three turnovers and Ohio State won the ground ball battle, 36-30, with a 19-13 edge in the second half.
The Buckeyes scored the final three goals of the second quarter to pull to within one, 6-5, at the half and then took their first lead of the game at 7-6 with 8:31 remaining in the third quarter. Ohio State briefly trailed again early in the fourth quarter but ended the game on a 4-0 scoring run.
Tommy Burke won 14-of-23 faceoffs and picked up a team-high eight ground balls. Goalie Henry Blake, who was making his first career start, had 10 total saves, including five in the first quarter and four in the second half as the Buckeyes outscored Utah 6-2.
How The Goals Were Scored
- Utah led 4-1 at the end of the first quarter as the Utes were able to get two scores from Carson Moyer and one each by Tyler Bradbury and Ryan Stines. Ohio State's lone first-quarter score came via Ben Mayer.
- Utah extended its lead to 6-2 at the 11:29 mark of the second quarter on Stines third tally of the afternoon. From there, however, the Buckeyes ended the first half on a 3-0 scoring run and trailed by one at halftime. Jack McKenna and Gannon Matthews (twice) were the goal scorers.
- Matthews' third goal of the afternoon tied the game at 6-6 four minutes into the third quarter, and Thomas Greenblatt then gave Ohio State its first lead of the day at 7-6 two minutes later. A two-goal Utah rally, however, put the Utes back up 8-7 early in the fourth quarter.
- Dillon Magee and Mayer scored back-to-back less than two minutes apart to put Ohio State up for good at 9-8 with 12:30 remaining. One minute later, Matthews' fourth goal of the day gave the Buckeyes a two-goal cushion. He'd close out the scoring at 1:11 remaining in the fourth quarter to cap his five-goal effort.
- In all, the Buckeyes scored nine of the final 11 goals in the game and saw six different players record a goal.
Statistically Speaking
Ohio State Scoring (G-A-P): Matthews 5-1-6; Mayer 2-0-2; McKenna 1-0-1; Magee 1-0-1; Greenblatt 1-0-1; Shean 1-0-1
Shots: Ohio State 40, Utah 36
Ground Balls: Ohio State 36, Utah 30
Faceoffs: Ohio State 14-of-23, Utah 9-of-23
Clears: Utah 20-of-21, Ohio State 24-of-25
Extra Man: Ohio State 2-of-3, Utah 0-of-3
Saves: Ohio State (Blake) 10, Utah (Lenskold) 7
Turnovers: Ohio State 22, Utah 17
What's Next
Ohio State continues its three-game homestand next Saturday when it welcomes Cleveland State to the Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium. Opening faceoff is slated for noon. Tickets for Ohio State men's lacrosse home games can be purchased HERE.
