Buckeye Rally Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to No. 13/15 Augustana

Saturday, October 24

Columbus, Ohio

5 p.m.

Ohio State

2-4-0

Augustana

5-0-1

Team	1	2	3	F
Augustana (SD)	4	0	0	4
Ohio State	0	1	2	3

10/24/2026 8:40:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Rucinski tallies twice for Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men's hockey team was unable to overcome an early deficit, with a third period rally falling short in a 4-3 loss to No. 13/15 Augustana Saturday in the Schottenstein Center. The visitors led 4-0 after the first period. The Buckeyes (2-4-0) held Augustana (4-0-1) scoreless the rest of the way, scoring once in the second and twice in the final five minutes, but could not get even.

The Short Story
Augustana opened the scoring at 7:10 and scored a power play goal at 10:21. Two goals in a 24-second span stretched the lead to 4-0 at the end of the first period. A Buckeye power play goal from Ryan Rucinski was the only goal of the second. Ohio State notched two extra attacker goals – by Rucinski at 15:52 and Benjamin Wilmott at 19:05 – for a one-goal game, but was unable to net the equalizer. Ohio State, which shut out the Vikings for 44:39, had the advantage in shots, 24-20, in the game, including 22-10 over the final two periods.

Up Next
Big Ten play begins next weekend, with the Buckeyes hosting No. 1 Michigan in the Schottenstein Center. Game one Saturday is slated for 6 p.m. and the series finale will be at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Saturday fans are encouraged to wear black and there will be trick or treating on the concourse. Sunday is a Scarlet Out, with a rally towel giveaway. Ticket Information

Augustana 4, Ohio State 3

An Augustana unassisted goal at 7:10 opened the scoring and the Vikings made it 2-0 at 10:21. The visitors then tallied at 14:57 and 15:21 for a 4-0 advantage. The Buckeyes shut out the Vikings the rest of the game (44:39).
In the second period, Buckeye freshman Ryan Rucinski put Ohio State on the board, scoring from outside the slot on the power play off an assist from Felix Caron, with Sascha Boumedienne also assisting.
The Buckeyes tallied twice in the final 4:08 of regulation, both with the net empty for the extra attacker.
At 15:52 of the third, Rucinski netted his second of the game, this time assisted by Max Montes and Jake Karabela.
Rookie Benjamin Wimlott made it a one-goal game at 19:05, with a shot from Karabela deflecting in off his body. Boumedienne also had an assist on the score.
After they were outshot 10-2 in the first period, the Buckeyes led the Vikings in shots 22-10 over the final 40 minutes (12-5 in the second, 10-5 in the third).
For the game, Ohio State led in shots, 24-20. Buckeye freshman goalie Jakub Milota entered in relief in the first period and stopped all 11 shots he faced while playing 40:33.
Ohio State blocked 12 shots and Bryce Ingles was first with three blocks.
The Buckeyes won 26-of-42 faceoffs (61.9 percent) and Karabela led the squad with nine wins. Ryan Gordon was 7-2 and Max Montes was 6-2.

Buckeye This and That

Ryan Rucinski is the second Buckeye freshman to score two goals in a game this season, joining Evan Jardine.
Rucinski and Jardine are tied for first on the team with three goals each. Rucinski is tied for second in scoring with five points. Rucinski has a point in four of the last five games.
Jake Karabala and Jardine share the team lead with four assists and Karabela also has five points to tie for second.
Karabela had his second two-assist game in the last three outings. He has seven two-assist nights as a Buckeye and 12 multiple-point games in his career.
Benjamin Wilmott has two goals and four points on the year.
Sascha Boumedienne had his first two-point night as a Buckeye and had three assists in the series vs. Augustana.
The Buckeyes have won 57.8 percent of their faceoffs overall (201-147).