Buckeyes Drop Series Opener at Sacred Heart, 5-3

Friday, October 16

Fairfield, Conn.

7 p.m.

Ohio State

1-2-0

Sacred Heart

2-1-0

Team	1	2	3	F
Ohio St.	0	2	1	3
Sacred Heart	1	2	2	5

10/16/2026 9:55:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Freshman Evan Jardine tallies twice for the Buckeyes

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men's hockey team lost to Sacred Heart, 5-3, Friday in Martire Family Arena in Fairfield, Conn. The Buckeyes drew within one twice, including with less than three minutes left in regulation, but were unable to net the equalizer.

The Short Story
The Pioneers led 1-0 after the first period and stretched the lead to 3-0 with two goals in the first 7:04 of the second period. Buckeye freshman Evan Jardine tallied twice in the middle stanza, at 10:58 and 19:13, for a 3-2 game through 40 minutes. Sacred Heart regained the two-goal lead early in the third. Buckeye captains Ryan Gordon and Nathan McBrayer combined for a shorthanded goal at 17:20, making it a 4-3 game, but an SHU empty net goal sealed the win in the last minute. McBrayer led the Buckeyes with two assists vs. the Pioneers.

Up Next
The Buckeyes (1-2) and Pioneers (2-1) will close the series at 7 p.m. Saturday in Martire Family Arena in Fairfield, Conn., with the game streamed through FloHockey.

The home slate begins for the Buckeyes Oct. 23-24 against Augustana, with game one puck drop set for 7 p.m. and game two scheduled for 5 p.m. Ticket Information

Sacred Heart 5, Ohio State 3

The lone goal of the first period was scored by Sacred Heart at 15:31.
The Pioneers doubled their lead with a tally 4:36 into the second and went ahead 3-0 with a power play goal at 7:04.
Buckeye freshman Evan Jardine pulled the Buckeyes within one with his first two collegiate goals. His first came on the power play at 10:58, as a shot from William Smith went off Jardine and in. Felix Caron also assisted on the tally.
In the final minute of the period, Jardine knocked a blocked Nathan McBrayer shot into the goal from the slot with the goalie screened. Will Tomko posted the second assist.
Just 1:07 into the third the Pioneers regained their two-goal lead with a power play score.
Ohio State's captains combined for a shorthanded goal at 17:20 to again make it a one-goal game. McBrayer carried the puck up ice and dropped a pass to Ryan Gordon for the shot. Freshman Ryan Rusinski started the play in the Buckey zone and had the second assist on the goal.
A Pioneer tally in the final minute with the Buckeye net empty ended the scoring.
The Buckeyes were ahead in shots, 31-22, in the game, with 11 in both the first and second periods and nine in the third.
Ohio State was 1-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-5 on the penalty kill.
Kristoffer Eberly started for the Buckeyes in goal and had eight saves on 10 shots in 24:25. Rookie Jakub Milota played his first collegiate minutes and had nine saves, allowing two goals, in 34:18.

Buckeye This and That

Evan Jardine notched the first goal for an Ohio State freshman this year.
Will Tomko's assist marked his first career point.
The shorthanded goal was the first for Ryan Gordon as a Buckeye.
Nathan McBrayer had two assists in the game, his second career two-assist night and first since Jan. 12, 2024 vs. Notre Dame. It was his third multiple-point game and first since Jan. 10, 2025 vs. Minnesota.
Ohio State is outshooting its opponents 33.3-20.0 per game this season.
Freshman forward Jackson Crowder made his collegiate debut.