After a couple of weeks of making me look like Nostradamus, Ohio State decided to make me look the fool. Though Jack Traynor didn't play for Penn State, the Buckeyes sure didn't let the game be a close contest.
A 6-1 2nd quarter put the game away for good, as Ohio State built a massive lead that would not be relinquished. As much as I malign the upperclassmen when they disappear in big games, today they all showed up. None more than Jackson Reid and Colby Smith.
Both Jackson Reid and Colby Smith came into today's game without a win against Penn State. Both players will leave Ohio State with at least one big W, as each tallied 6 points to tie for the team lead in today's contest.
Colby Smith fired home 5 goals, filling the net after having a few off games. He added an assist to go with his onslaught, adding insult to injury. Smith is having a breakout year, more than doubling his career goal total this year, and just a few points shy of doing the same with his overall performance.
Jackson Reid, on the other hand, had a hat-trick of goals and assists, perfectly balancing his 6 points on the day. Reid is just 6 goals away from a new career high, with 4 games left to play.
Not to be outdone, Scott White recorded his first career hat-trick today, an outstanding effort from a player who really struggled prior to this year.
All in all, the offense has made tremendous improvement year over year the past three seasons, statistically at least. The unit still disappears completely in the biggest games. That's got to get much, much better. But today was a decent response to the shellacking of last week.
As a great man once said, nothing cleanses the soul like getting hell kicked out of you. For the Buckeye defense this week, that certainly rang true. Ohio State returned to its best defensive alignment, the Van Buren-Gallagher-Snyder trio down low, and played the Penn State middies tight. As a team, Penn State only shot the ball one less time than Ohio State.
But the Buckeye defense allowed 10 fewer shots on goal than Penn State. That's huge. And it meant that Penn State only managed a paltry .236 shooting percentage. That's outstanding.
Even better, Skylar Wahlund had easily the best game of his career. With 11 saves, good for 55%, Wahlund kept the Buckeyes in it, and allowed the defense to get away with some errors. It has been a long, long time since the goalies have done that for Ohio State against anyone in the Power 3. It was a breath of fresh air.
At the faceoff dot, the news wasn't nearly as rosy. Inacio was barely above 50%, and as a team Ohio State was well under 50. But the W counts, so that papers over the most incomprehensible development of 2022. For now.
On special teams, Ohio State scored two Man Up goals and had no penalties called on them. Envelope is under the dash, zebras, don't spend it all on one place. (This was sarcasm, all parties.)
Today was a nice win over a perpetual thorn in the side of Ohio State lacrosse. Penn State owned the Buckeyes from 2016 to 2021. Now, it's a great day to be a Buckeye fan. But there are still 2 must-win games to go. And neither will be this easy. Buckle up.
Go Bucks!
