No. 10 Ohio State Defeats No. 19 North Carolina, 8-5

2023 Schedule & Results // 2023 Roster // Final Stats

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes came from behind to defeat No. 19 North Carolina, 8-5, Sunday afternoon at the Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium. The win, in front of a sellout crowd of 2,363, was the Buckeyes’ third consecutive win in their new home and their first over a ranked team.

Ohio State trailed, 4-2, at halftime but scored five consecutive goals in the second half to take control in this tight, defensive battle. The win improved Ohio State’s record to 3-0 with North Carolina falling to 2-1 on the year.

The Short Story
Each team had 16 turnovers and both goalies were terrific: UNC’s Collin Krieg had 13 saves and Ohio State’s Skylar Wahlund made 12. The difference was Ohio State’s offense, which finally got going in the fourth quarter with five goals, including back-to-back goals by Kyle Borda, his fourth and fifth of the season, to give the Buckeyes their first lead of the game and they would not relinquish it.

UNC led, 4-2, in the low scoring first half that featured three lead changes and two ties. The Tar Heels scored the final two goals of the second quarter after Ohio State had tied it at 2-all.

There was only one goal in the third quarter: by Ohio State’s Scott White to cut the UNC lead to 4-3. After Richie LaCalandra tied the score early in the fourth quarter, Borda scored his two goals and the Buckeyes had the momentum and went on for the win.

How the Goals Were Scored

• The Tar Heels scored first just over five minutes into the game, but Kyle Lewis put the Buckeyes on the scoreboard at the 9:46 mark to tie the game. UNC regained the lead, 2-1, just 15 seconds later.
• Jack Myers tied the score at 2-all with a bouncer between the legs of UNC goalie Collin Krieg at 13:37 of the second quarter. It was his fifth goal of the season.
• UNC grabbed its third lead of the game, just over a minute after Myers’ goal, behind a goal from Paul Barton, his first of the season. One more UNC goal made it 4-2 at the half.
• More than 10 minutes went by without a goal until Ohio State’s Scott White sent a shot by Krieg in the lower right corner, bringing the Buckeyes to within 4-3 with just over 10 minutes to play in the third quarter.
• Ohio State finally got the equalizer, tying the game at 4-all with just over 13 minutes to play in the fourth quarter as Myers found Richie LaCalandra, who buried it from the left side of Krieg.
• It took 52 minutes, but Ohio State finally took its first lead of the game as Kyle Borda beat Krieg with a laser into the top right corner from right in front of the cage making it 5-4 at the 8:08 mark.
• Borda struck moments later, at the 6:29 mark, to make it 6-4 Ohio State as he charged in from the left to score unassisted.
• Jason Knox extended the lead to 7-4 as he ripped a shot from the left to beat Krieg into the top right corner. Assist on the play went to Ed Shean.
• UNC answered right back, though, with a goal by Ty English to cut the lead to 7-5.
• Shean gave the Buckeyes an 8-5 lead as he spun around the net clockwise for a goal with 1:58 left to play.

Game Notes

• Ohio State has won four of the last six games between these two schools.
• Richie LaCalandra scored his first goal as a Buckeye in the win.
• LaCalandra, Kyle Borda, Jack Myers and Ed Shean all recorded two points for the Buckeyes.
• Skylar Wahlund improves to 3-0 on the year with 12 saves on the day.
• The Buckeyes held the Tar Heels to just one goal in the second half.
• North Carolina is coached by former Ohio State coach Joe Breschi, who was 92-63 and led Ohio State to four GWLL regular season titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances before leaving for North Carolina in 2009. Nick Myers was an assistant coach under Breschi at Ohio State, and he took over the program when Breschi left for Carolina.

Statistically Speaking
Shots: North Carolina 42, Ohio State 32
Ground Balls: North Carolina 25, Ohio State 24
Faceoffs: North Carolina 10-of-17, Ohio State 7-of-17
Clears: North Carolina 20-of-21, Ohio State 20-of-26
Extra Man: North Carolina 0-of-2, Ohio State 1-of-2
Saves: North Carolina 13, Ohio State 12
Turnovers: Ohio State 16, North Carolina 16

What’s Next
Ohio State travels to Naples, Fla., to compete Saturday, Feb. 25, on a neutral field against the No. 1-ranked Virginia Cavaliers at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex.

Home Game Tickets

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