Buckeyes Fall 9-6 in Non-Conference Finale vs. Denver

Sunday, March 17

Columbus, Ohio

12 p.m.

Ohio State

5-4

Denver

6-1

DENVER

Ohio State

Buckeyes Fall 9-6 in Non-Conference Finale vs. Denver

3/17/2024 3:13:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men's lacrosse team dropped its non-conference finale to No. 7 Denver, 9-6, Sunday at Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium. The Buckeyes are now 5-4 on the year as they turn the page to their five-game Big Ten slate set to start next weekend in Columbus.

The Short Story
Ohio State cut the Denver lead down to one twice in the first half but was unable to jump ahead. Shots on goal were nearly even, with the Pioneers finishing with the slight advantage, 35-34.

The Buckeyes' defense held the Pioneers to a season-low nine goals. Of Denver's 18 turnovers, eleven were caused by Ohio State. Justin Sherrer led the team with a career-best three caused turnovers while Cullen Brown picked up a career-high seven ground balls. Caleb Fyock made 10 saves on the day for his fifth double digit save performance of the year.

Alex Marinier recorded his second straight multi-goal game, and sixth of the season, with two goals against Denver. Ed Shean tallied a team-high three points with one goal and two assists.

The game was Ohio State's fourth against a top-10 opponent in as many weeks.

How the Goals Were Scored

After Denver scored the first two goals of the quarter at 11:25 and 3:58, Alex Marinier put the Buckeyes on the board as the first quarter clock expired. A Denver turnover turned into a transition goal for Ohio State as Brown picked up the ground ball and found Eli Fisher to take the ball up the field. Fisher passed off to Marinier, whose shot went through three defenders and beat Pioneer goalie Malcolm Kleban. Denver took the 2-1 lead after the first quarter.
The Pioneers scored at 14:22 to start the second quarter, but Marinier added his second consecutive goal to cut the Pioneer's lead back down to one. He ripped a shot to the top right of the Denver goal off an assist from Shean on the man-advantage.
The Pioneers added three more goals in the quarter, scoring at 6:36, 5:56 and 4:56 to take its largest lead of the game with the 6-2 advantage.
Gannon Matthews ended Denver's scoring run with a goal at 1:11 in the quarter and Jack McKenna scored with five seconds to play in the half to bring the Buckeyes within two at the half.
Denver scored the lone goal of the third quarter at 2:28.
The Buckeyes and Pioneers went back and forth in the fourth quarter, each scoring twice. Ohio State struck first, with Ed Shean scoring at 13:28. Denver added its eighth goal of the game at 9:36, followed by a Buckeye goal from Matt Caputo at 8:07. The Pioneer's final goal came at 3:13 to make the game 9-6.

Up Next
The Buckeyes close their four game homestand on Sunday, March 24 against No. 8 Penn State. The Big Ten opener is at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised on Big Ten Network. Tickets for Ohio State men's lacrosse games can be purchased HERE.

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