Ohio State was unable to add a national title to what was already the most successful season in Buckeye lacrosse history after a late comeback fell just short.
Facing a five-goal deficit late in the game, the Buckeye staged a furious fourth-quarter stretch, cutting the lead to just two goals with two minutes left to play. But that's as close as they got, falling 9-6 to the Terrapins in their first national title appearance ever.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #3 OHIO STATE | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| #1 MARYLAND | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
Initially, it looked it was going to be a back and forth affair. Ohio State led twice early, notching the game's first goal to make it 1-0, then answered a Maryland equalizer to make it 2-1. From that point on, it was all Maryland.
The Terrapins scored four straight goals while suffocating the Buckeye offense on the other end. Ohio State was held scoreless for the final 20 minutes of the first half, managing just four shots and turning the ball over three times. Maryland led 5-2 at the half.
Ohio State got on the board first in the second half, scoring the first goal after intermission to cut the lead to two, but Maryland responded by netting three-straight goals to give Maryland an 8-3 lead.
But the Buckeyes didn't quit. Ohio State scored three goals late in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 8-6, but a huge Maryland save and an empty-net goal sealed the game and the first national championship for the Terps since 1975 as they topped the Buckeyes 9-6.
The loss ends a tremendously successful season on a bitter note.
Ohio State reached the semifinals for the first time in program history this season, where the Buckeyes topped Towson to advance to their first NCAA championship game in program history. Ohio State won a program-record 16 games in 2017, had a program-record six USILA All-Americans and had a program-record six players drafted in the MLL Draft.
It's not the ending the Buckeyes had written, but it's hard to be too disappointed with the best season in program history.
Game Notes
- Leclaire ends the season with a team-best 49 goals, the third-most in a single season in Ohio State history.
- Fannell ended the season as the Buckeyes' leader in assists with 30, and points with 66.
- Blubaugh is the Ohio State leader in career games played with 69.
