COLUMBUS, Ohio – In front of 29,601 fans, the No. 11 Ohio State men’s lacrosse team defeated No. 17 Denver, 20-13, Saturday in Ohio Stadium. The attendance set national men’s lacrosse records for regular-season (20,180 March 3, 2007 in Baltimore) and on-campus (19,850, April 18, 1987 in College Park, Md.) games. With the win, Ohio State improves to 4-0 in the Great Western Lacrosse League and 9-3 on the year, extending its winning streak to five. The Pioneers suffer their first league loss this season (3-1) and are 9-5 on the year, ending their winning streak at six.
The Buckeyes built a big lead in the first half, with a 6-1 advantage at the end of the first quarter and a 13-3 lead at halftime. Junior Joel Dalgarno, from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, led the Buckeyes in the win with a career-best nine goals and 10 points. The nine goals are the second-highest total in program history, behind the 12 Steve Lauver had vs. Bowling Green Feb. 23, 1965, and tying with Brian Driscoll, who scored nine times vs. Michigan April 8, 1967. It is the seventh 10-point game in program history and ties for the fifth-best single-game performance in the Ohio State record books.
Buckeye senior and team leading scorer Kevin Buchanan had a career-high six goals and matched his personal best with eight points. Senior goalie Stefan Schroder had a season-best 17 saves in the game, including six in the fourth quarter. Sophomore James Green recorded three goals and four points in the victory.
After the teams traded goals in the first 1:08, with Dalgarno scoring 10 seconds into the game and Ilija Gajic tallying man-up for the Pioneers at 13:52, the Buckeyes went on a six-goal run. Buchanan scored four-consecutive goals, with even-strength tallies at 13:36, 11:22 and 3:35 and a man-down score, set up by Jeff Ryan, at 4:46. Peet Poillon found Green for a goal with 1:44 left in the quarter, as Ohio State took a 6-1 lead.
Dalgarno scored a man-up goal, assisted by Green, at 12:05 of the second quarter. DU’s John Dickenson ended the Buckeye run with a man-up goal at 11:22. Ohio State responded with four-consecutive goals, beginning with a tally from Green at 9:45. Dalgarno had a hand in the next three goals, scoring twice in 19 seconds at 5:26 and 5:07 (man-up, assisted by Buchanan), and finding senior Peter Schell alone in front of the net at 3:34. Denver made the score 11-3 on Jon Paulson’s score at 2:50. Buckeey sophomore Ryan Lowe won the ensuing faceoff and found Green for a goal 10 seconds later (2:40) and Buchanan set up sophomore Mario Ventiquattro for the half’s final goal at 2:03. The Buckeyes took a 13-3 lead into the lockerroom.
Denver outscored the Buckeyes, 6-3, in the third quarter to cut the lead to 16-9. Jamie Lincoln opened the second half with a goal for the Pioneers at 12:25. Dalgarno scored at 10:26, before DU’s Kyle Widerstedt and Dalgarno traded goals at 7:45 and 6:43, respectively. The Pioneers then went on a four-goal run to cut the Buckeye lead to six (15-9). Cliff Smith scored back-to-back goals in less than a minute (5:34 and 4:54), with Charley Dickenson scoring at 2:11 and John Dickenson recording a goal at 1:08. Dalgarno scored unassisted with 13 seconds left in the quarter.
Each team scored four goals in the fourth quarter. Denver again got within six on Lincoln’s goal at 7:35 before Buchanan responded 32 seconds later. DU’s Brett Koll and OSU’s Dalgarno scored in just less than a minute, at 6:14 and 5:16, as Ohio State again reached a seven-goal lead. The Pioneers scored the next two goals to cut the Buckeye lead to five (18-13) with 2:55 remaining, on scores from Gajic at 4:33 and Lincoln at 2:55. Ohio State scored the last two goals of the game for the 20-13 final, as Buchanan tallied at 2:36 and Dalgarno scored his ninth goal of the game with 44 seconds remaining.
Schroder made 17 saves for the Buckeyes in all 60 minutes. Denver’s Austin Konkel had nine saves in all 60 minutes. The Pioneers outshot the Buckeyes, 46-39, including 38-14 in the second half.
The Buckeyes were 2-for-6 on man-up chances, with Denver converting 1-of-4 opportunities.
Postgame Quotes
Joe Breschi, Ohio State head coach
On playing in Ohio Stadium
“This was an amazing experience. To be able to play in the stadium in front of all of these people was great. We are very thankful to Gene Smith and Coach Tressel for giving us this opportunity. This is a great boaot for our program.”
On the game
“We responded well to the crowd right from the beginning. We came out early and loosened up and were aggressive. After the first half, we anticipated Denver would make a tough run, which they did. I think we got a little too comfortable and let them score. However, we were able to close it out in the end and get the win in front of all these people.”
Josh Funk, senior captain midfielder
On the opportunity to play in the stadium
“What a great experience. I’m just speechless. The fans really made a great turnout for us and it gave us high energy right from the start. It really felt good to get the win over a tough team like Denver here in front of all these people.”
Kevin Buchanan, senior captain midfielder
On the overall experience
“Amazing. There really is no other word to describe it. This was a moment of a lifetime for me and my teammates. Coming into the game, we really couldn’t grasp the magnitude of today and how the crowd would affect our play. It was just amazing.”
On the game
“We played very well. Our defense really stepped it up and performed for us. It was a fun game and getting the win in the stadium now has us pumped up for next week’s game against Notre Dame.”
James Green, sophomore midfielder
On the performance of the team
“We came out extremely strong and played well. Overall, the game went really well and we worked hard to pull out the win.”
On playing in the stadium
“This was incredible. We are all very thankful for this opportunity. I know none of us have ever played with this kind of crowd and so it was just a great experience for everyone.”
