Around the Oval: Men's Hockey Advances to Big Ten Semis, Women's Tennis Struggles in Texas, Men's Lacrosse Rebounds Versus Detroit Mercy

Fire from the Ice  

The men's hockey team locked up a spot in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals with a second-straight win against Michigan State on Saturday. With the victory, the team avoided a tie-breaking third game in the weekend series. 

The sixth-ranked Buckeyes started the three game series on strong footing Friday night with a 6-2 win over the Spartans. After rambling on to a 2-1 lead during the first two periods of play, the Buckeyes rose up and added four scores in the final period, turning what was a close contest into a rout. Junior forward Mason Jobst, who contributed a goal and two assists, led the offensive for the scarlet and gray. 

Buckeye captain Mason Jobst had 6 points in the B1G Tourney quarterfinal sweep of MSU (3g, 3a) with 3 points each game.

He has points in his last 4 games combined and now has 41 points on the year. pic.twitter.com/64MNi317B8

— Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) March 4, 2018

On Saturday night, the Buckeyes again faced Michigan State in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes and Spartans traded blows early. Both teams scored one goal in the first period and two goals in the second. At the end of regular time, the score was tied 3-3. 

Ohio native Freddy Gerard was the hero of the hour, knocking in the game and series winning overtime goal. 

With the win, the Buckeyes earned the right to advance to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The team will face Michigan next Saturday in a single elimination game at Nationwide Arena. 

Highlights from last nights overtime - and Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal series clinching - win over Michigan State. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/JNWjd37Zeh

— Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) March 4, 2018

Don't Mess with Texas

The women's tennis team struggled this weekend in road matches in the Lone Star State against Baylor and Texas.

The eleventh-ranked squad started the weekend with a tough 4-1 loss to Baylor.

Freshmen Emma DeCoste and Danielle Wolf won the first doubles match of the day. Shortly after, senior Olivia Sneed and freshman Mary Beth Hurley secured the doubles point for the Buckeyes. Ohio State success was, however, confined to doubles play. Baylor won all four singles courts in straights sets.

The Buckeyes' troubles continued Sunday against eighteenth-ranked Texas. The Longhorns won the meeting 4-0. Coach Melissa Schaub saw a silver lining in the loss, however, commenting: "We are young, but we showed some fight and toughness today." 

The women's tennis team is now 5-3 on the season. They return to Columbus to play Nebraska on Wednesday. 

Men's Lacrosse Strikes Back

Fourth-ranked men's lacrosse won an overtime thriller last week, and the team once again took a game down to the wire versus eighteenth-ranked Marquette on Friday. Repeating a pattern familiar from last week, the team came back with two goals in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Once again, Ohio State's Jackson Reid shot on goal with the potential for dramatic result. The Maquette goalie, however, was prepared. The Buckeyes' luck ran out in extra time. The final score was 8-7 Marquette. 

The loss to Marquette was the lacrosse team's first of the season.

On Sunday, the men's lacrosse unit once again started slow. Three quarters into play, the team trailed Detroit Mercy 6-3. Regaining their mojo, the Bucks went on a five goal spree and ultimately won the day 8-7.

The men's lacrosse team's flair for comebacks is quickly becoming a defining trait. The group seems to come alive late in games with their backs against a wall. 

Views from today's 8-7 win to close out the Midwest Lacrosse Classic over Detroit. #GoBucks | #BOOM pic.twitter.com/0GRXOwqZKa

— Ohio State Men's LAX (@OhioState_MLAX) March 4, 2018

After the game, coach Nick Meyers said: "I'm proud of the way our men fought today. Playing three games in seven days on the road is tough and certainly made us a stronger lacrosse family...We are 5-1 and ready to go home and play our first game at Ohio Stadium next weekend. Rest and a great week of preparation is what we need."

The team plays Towson in Columbus next Saturday. 

OTHER SCORES AND NEWS

This weekend saw a flurry of big news from Ohio State teams. While this piece highlights events not yet covered by Eleven Warriors, check out our other stories using links posted below. 

• Women's basketball wins the Big Ten Tournament. More coverage here. 
• Men's wrestling wins the Big Ten Championship. More here. 
• Wrestler Kyle Snyder revenges his only loss in the last three seasons. More here. 
• Wrestling's Tom Ryan named Big Ten Coach of the year. More here. 
• Women's hockey makes first ever NCAA tournament. More here.
• Men's baseball goes 2-1 at Cox Diamond Invitational. 
• Men's volleyball sweeps McKendree.