No. 9 Ohio State Wins Eighth Consecutive Game, 15-11 over Denver

Sunday, March 16

Denver, Colo.

2 p.m. (12 p.m. MT)

Ohio State

8-1

Denver

4-4

Ohio State

Denver

No. 9 Ohio State Wins Eighth Consecutive Game, 15-11 over Denver

3/16/2025 5:38:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 9 Ohio State men's lacrosse team closed its non-conference slate with a 15-11 victory over Denver Sunday at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium in Denver, Colo.

The win, Ohio State's first at Denver since 2009, is the Buckeyes' eighth consecutive to improve to 8-1 on the year. Denver is now 4-4 on the season.

The Short Story
The game was tied three times in the first half before Ohio State went on a five-goal scoring run to close the half with an 8-3 lead. The two teams traded two-goal scoring runs two times apiece in the third quarter, with Denver scoring twice to cut the lead to 8-5, but Ohio State countered with two consecutive for a 10-5 lead. The runs were replicated and Ohio State led after three quarters, 12-7.

The teams continued their scoring barrage in the fourth quarter, but Denver could never get closer than within three.

Alex Marinier led a quartet of multi-goal scorers with five goals on eight shots on goal for his sixth hat trick of the year. Ben Mayer, Ed Shean and Gannon Matthews had two goals apiece. The balanced offensive effort saw Ohio State get points from each of its top 10 scorers on the season.

Jack Oldman was 15-of-18 at the faceoff X and picked up a team-high 12 ground balls on the day. Caleb Fyock improved to 8-0 on the season in goal with 10 saves.

Aside from the goals, the game was even statistically with team clears, faceoffs, turnovers, caused turnovers and saves all either even or within one.

The win is Ohio State's first in the series since 2017. Ohio State improves to 3-0 this season against 2024 Final Four teams with wins over Virginia, Notre Dame and now Denver.

How it Happened

Ryan Donnery scored his 13th goal of the season just 11 seconds into the game to give the Buckeyes the quick lead. Jonny Cool recorded his first assist of the season on the goal.
Denver responded with a pair of goals for a 2-1 lead but Alex Marinier tied the score at 2-all at the 7:46 mark of the first quarter.
The Buckeyes went back in front less than a minute into the second quarter as Gannon Matthews scored unassisted for a 3-2 lead. The goal was Matthews' sixth of the season.
After Denver tied the score at 3-all at the 11:41 mark of the second quarter, Ohio State went on a run with five consecutive goals – by Matthews, Ben Mayer, Liam White, Marinier and Ed Shean – for an 8-3 lead heading into the intermission.
The Buckeye defense held Denver to just four shots and only one on goal in the second quarter.
Mayer's second goal of the game stopped a mini run of two goals for the Pioneers to give Ohio State a four-goal cushion of 9-5 with 11:40 to play in the third quarter.
Marinier added his third goal of the game about five minutes later and the Buckeyes, once again, enjoyed a five-goal advantage at 10-5.
Marinier's fourth goal of the game stopped a two-goal Denver run and gave the Buckeyes an 11-7 lead.
Haas closed the third quarter scoring with his second of the game and 15th of the season, for a 12-7 Buckeye lead heading into the final quarter.
Denver scored with the man advantage early in the fourth quarter and added another goal to get to within 12-9 but Shane O'Leary followed quickly with a goal to reinstate a four-goal advantage at 13-9.
Marinier scored his fifth goal of the game, and 29th of the year, and Denver followed with a goal of its own to make the score 14-10 deep into the fourth quarter.
Shean's second score of the game pushed the Buckeye lead back to five goals and the win was in hand.

Up Next
Ohio State travels to University Park, Pa., to open Big Ten play against No. 5 Penn State on Sunday, March 23. The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions face off at 7 p.m. from Panzer Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

#GoBucks