The Ohio State Buckeyes (5-4, 1-1 ECAC) travel to Baltimore, MD, to
take on Loyola (5-2, 3-0 ECAC) on Saturday April 3rd for the
schools’ first ever meeting.
Ohio State joined the Eastern College Athletic Conference
this season, while Loyola (MD) began ECAC conference play in 2005.
The Greyhounds of Loyola are undefeated in the ECAC this season as
they attempt to recreate their 2009 success, which saw them finish
6-1 in conference play.
The Greyhounds are currently third in all of NCAA Division I
with a 6.79 goals against average, and junior goalkeeper Jake
Hagerlin has been the anchor of the defense. Hagerlin had a
season-high 15 saves in last weekend’s 7-6 victory over
Towson.
Loyola’s defense has been particularly strong in
penalty killing situations. The Greyhounds have allowed opponents
to score on only 20.8 percent of their extra-man opportunities,
ranking seventh in the nation.
On offense, the Greyhounds rely on a couple of seniors to
lead the attack. Preseason ECAC player of the year Cooper MacDonald
returned from injury to score 2 goals against Towson on March 27th.
Despite missing three of seven games with a reoccurring shoulder
injury, MacDonald is tied for second on the team with 11 goals
scored. Fellow senior Colin Finnerty has been a fixture in the
front line, leading the team with 13 goals and 20 points.
Ohio State are in the midst of five consecutive road games
and will look to improve upon their 1-4 road record. Freshman Logan
Schuss has been an inspiration to the Buckeyes in his first
collegiate season. Schuss was named last week’s ECAC
offensive player of the week, and leads Ohio State with 15 assists
and 30 points in 2010.
The Buckeyes travel to Maryland after a dramatic game at ECAC
rival Quinnipiac last Saturday. After trailing for much of the
game, the Buckeyes completed an impressive comeback to win their
first road game of the season 10-8.
“Anytime you are down four goals in the third quarter
on the road it is a gutcheck,” said Ohio State head coach
Nick Myers, “It was great to see the men respond and score
seven unanswered to ultimately earn the W.”
In Saturday’s ECAC Game of the Week, Ohio State will
need to get off to a fast start knowing that Loyola has outscored
opponents 42-26 after halftime this season.
Loyola has amassed a 17-1 home record since joining the ECAC
in 2005, and will hope to separate themselves from the pack with a
victory against the Buckeyes.
Watch Ohio State tackle #12 Loyola (MD) LIVE at 2:00pm EST on
FCS Pacific this Saturday April 3rd.
