Buckeyes Fall in B1G Tournament Quarterfinals

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Michigan defeated Ohio State, 14-10, Saturday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference Lacrosse Tournament at the U-M Lacrosse Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. Ohio State finishes 5-9 on the season while the Wolverines, 7-6, move on to the tournament semifinals where they will meet No. 1 seed Penn State Thursday, May 4 in Baltimore, Md.

The Short Story

Michigan led 11-6 at the half despite a 26-19 differential in first-half shots with the rest of the stat categories relatively equal. Trailing 3-2 early, Michigan scored nine of the next 10 goals to take control of the first half while Wolverine goalie Shane Carr was terrific, making eight saves.

Just two goals were scored in the third quarter, but credit Ohio State goalie Skylar Wahlund with keeping the Buckeyes in it with six saves, including four of the most-difficult variety.

Faced with a five-goal deficit entering the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes were not able to generate enough offense to come back for the win.

Statistically, Wahlund finished with seven saves while Michigan’s Carr had 14. Michigan was perfect on its 17 clear attempts while Ohio State was 20 of 22. The Buckeyes held the advantage in turnovers with just seven compared to 12 for the Wolverines.

Michigan had a balanced scoring attack with six players scoring multiple goals. Ohio State was led by three goals from Matt Caputo, and two apiece from Jack Myers and Kyle Lewis.

How Things Played Out … First Quarter

• Michigan took an early 1-0 lead with a goal one minute into the game, but Ohio State came right back with a goal by Jack Myers at 12:51 to tie the score. The goal was Myers’ 19th of the season. Connor Cmiel on the assist.
• The teams traded goals a short time later with Michigan taking a 2-1 at 10:38 only to have Ohio State’s Matt Caputo tie it just over a minute later at 9:18 with his 13th goal of the season. 
• Myers gave Ohio State its first lead of the game, 3-2, with his second goal of the game, unassisted, at 8:05.
• The lead stayed Ohio State’s for the next three minutes, and then the home team went on a run, scoring four times in the final 5:26 of the period to lead, 6-3, after the first 15 minutes. 

… Second Quarter

• A rebound scoop and score by UM’s Bryce Clay at 13:43 extended the Wolverine’s lead to 7-3 and its string of consecutive goals to five.
• Michigan scored again at 9:11 to make it 8-3: Ryan Cohen becoming the seventh different Wolverine to score in the game.
• Kyle Borda’s 21st goal of the season stopped the Michigan run on goals, and it pulled the Buckeyes to within 8-4 at the 8:30 mark.
• Michigan followed with three more goals in succession to extend the lead to 11-4 with 1:32 to play in the half.
• Despite the limited time left in the half, Ohio State needed a response and it got it: Caputo scored his second goal of the game at 1:34 and, following an Ohio State timeout, Kyle Lewis scored with just six seconds remaining to pull the Buckeyes to within five at 11-6 at the half.

… Third Quarter

• UM’s all-time leading goal scorer Josh Zwada scored his 27th goal of the season to open the second half scoring and increase the UM lead to 12-6.
• Mitchell Pehlke responded for the Buckeyes, patiently avoiding the UM defenders in close to score his eighth goal of the season to make the score 12-7 at the 7:49 mark of the third.

… Fourth Quarter

• Michigan’s Cohen scored at 11:33 to increase the lead to 13-7.
• Lewis’s second goal of the game made it 13-8. It was his fifth score of the year.
• After another Cohen goal made it 14-8, Ohio State got back-to-back goals by Caputo and Matthew Fritz seven seconds apart to bring the Buckeyes to as close as they’ve been since the first half at 14-10 with just over 5 minutes left to play. Neither team would score the rest of the way.

Game Notes

• Ohio State is 3-6 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament, which started in 2015.
• This is the third consecutive season that Ohio State and Michigan have met in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, but the first time in Ann Arbor.
• Michigan earned home field for this tournament game by virtue of its 19-14 win over Ohio State in the teams’ regular season finale last week in Ann Arbor.
• Jack Myers led the Buckeyes’ offense this year with 42 points and 21 assists.
• Myers is second in the Ohio State record book for career assists (115) and he ranks third in career points (236).
• Ed Shean led the team with 27 goals this season.
• The Buckeyes’ 2023 slate is among the toughest in the nation. The team has faced six teams with top-10 RPI ratings and nine in the top-15.

Statistically Speaking
Shots: Ohio State 45, Michigan 40
Ground Balls: Ohio State 31, Michigan 28
Faceoffs: Michigan 15-of-28, Ohio State 13-of-28
Clears: Michigan 17-of-17, Ohio State 20-of-22
Extra Man: Michigan 1-of-3, Ohio State 0-of-3
Saves: Michigan 14, Ohio State 7
Turnovers: Michigan 12, Ohio State 7 

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