Ohio St. Week

[Caliknight]

Hearing practices have gone well this week. Hopefully the offense continues taking the next steps. We have often played well at OSU and will have to play very well to get a W there. They are an absolute handful. I have seen enough of their games. They are very athletic all over the field, and their offense plays smart and moves the ball very well. Their D is nasty and they are getting great goaltending from Fyock. The B1G is loaded and they might very well be the best team.

Keys for us is the same as always. We must win faceoffs and continue to put pressure on their D trying to wear them down, our shot selection has to be the best it's been all year, and we must can the shots we get hands free within range. Another opportunity in what is the best conference in the country. Hopefully the guys can go play with their hair on fire and play with the confidence they brought to Hopkins. Lastly, our stars have to shine and we must get production from other guys. Colin K, Stoller, Paolatto must have good games and our Dmids are going to have to defend like they have been. If you like seeing athletes get after it when the ball is on the turf, this is going to be a good one to watch. I imagine this game is going to be physical, with two programs, staffs, and players that have zero love lost.

 

[Wagram97]

I would think with a win at OSU that we'd be right back in the conversation for the playoffs. RPI currently at 22 but guessing a win at OSU would have a huge impact. But will be a tough challenge. Hey, if Utah can do it why not us (or somehow Bryant kept it close).

 

[Caliknight]

Beauty of playing in the B1G. Opportunity abound. Teams like Army have a rough go. They can't falter in the regular season at all or they have to win their conference tourney. The former being hard not to do, with the latter being hard to do.

 

[Wagram97]

Beauty of playing in the B1G. Opportunity abound. Teams like Army have a rough go. They can't falter in the regular season at all or they have to win their conference tourney. The former being hard not to do, with the latter being hard to do.

Feel bad for Army. The Patriot League needs to throw some serious money to Lehigh and especially Loyola and get both those schools going again.

 

[Caliknight]

Loyola has some real funding. I am shocked to see them winless. Guessing some changes will be made on the staff. They go from nearly beating Maryland and Hopkins to losing to Lafayette. Hard to fathom.

 

[loyalson66]

This is going to be a tough go. OSU stumbled out of the gate, but since that initial loss, they have come on strong. Going to be very difficult to get the ball in the back of the net in this one. Our best hope is to play outstanding D with Stoller standing on his head and try to stick around to the finish.

 

[Caliknight]

I'd also say we need to jump on them early. As good as their goalie is, and he is good, he's a headcase. You get to him early he will start blaming the defense and holding his head down.

 

[bigmatt718]

If they get a W in Columbus they're in good shape IMO. They'd be 6-5 and likely would only need 2 more wins to dance if you include the B1G Tourney.

 

[mdk01]

I'd also say we need to jump on them early. As good as their goalie is, and he is good, he's a headcase. You get to him early he will start blaming the defense and holding his head down.

He also was giving up rebounds early against PSU. Need to be ready to jump on them if he repeats that.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Not worth starting a new thread on this, so I'll just put it here. Three Rutgers players were named to the IL/Media "Honorable Mention" all-American team: FO Matthew Paolatto, SSDM Joe Juengerkes, and GK Cardin Stoller. They voted OSU's GK Caleb Fyock as third team over Stoller.

There's three true "teams" and then Honorable Mention has a ton of players.

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/kirst-unanimous-first-team-selection-for-2025-nike-lacrosse-midseason-men-s-di-media-all-americans/64911

 

[mdk01]

Not worth starting a new thread on this, so I'll just put it here. Three Rutgers players were named to the IL/Media "Honorable Mention" all-American team: FO Matthew Paolatto, SSDM Joe Juengerkes, and GK Cardin Stoller. They voted OSU's GK Caleb Fyock as third team over Stoller.

There's three true "teams" and then Honorable Mention has a ton of players.

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/kirst-unanimous-first-team-selection-for-2025-nike-lacrosse-midseason-men-s-di-media-all-americans/64911

Juengerkes should be 3rd team at worst.

On a personal note, and might be of interest to @gef21, two alums of my prep alma mater made 1st team playing for Maryland, one a 4 year on D and one a PG SSDM

 

[Degaz-RU]

Supposed to be warm in Columbus today, with high of 77. Gonna need some good shifts by the second middies to keep everyone fresh.

 

[Caliknight]

Supposed to be warm in Columbus today, with high of 77. Gonna need some good shifts by the second middies to keep everyone fresh.

Make their goalie come out of the cage to make plays. He’s out of shape. Terrible fitness

 

[Wagram97]

For any Rutgers team, I just would like for one really good game to carry over to the next game. Too many times this year, it’s what a great game followed by, well guess that’s that as the team gets blown away.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Awful start. OSU up 3-0 and we can’t get a good look on offense.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Can’t get a shot in settled offense? No problem, pole goal for Ryan Splaine, who ran straight down the middle and beat Fyock. 3-1.

 

[rbled]

Need more of that. We have to press early offense. We are simply not good 6 on 6.

 

[Wagram97]

Another where defense and face off wins keeping us in the game. Guys on offense need to start taking some shots.

 

[Degaz-RU]

We are getting completely stifled in settled offense. Zero goals in 6 on 6.

 

[rbled]

Gee another transition goal….

 

[Degaz-RU]

Splaine with another pole goal in transition. 3-2.

But we have three shot clock violations. Unable to function in half court offense.

 

[Wagram97]

Splaine with 2 goals!

 

[Wagram97]

Boom!!! Tied game 3-3.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Finally a goal by Justin Lawler in settled offense. 3-3 now.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Defense hasn’t given up a goal in 15 minutes

 

[Wagram97]

Splaine working for defensive player of the week.

 

[rbled]

our best looks are coming within the first 15 secs of the possession. We need to be pressing in transition and taking advantage of o-mids when before the get a chance to sub.

 

[Degaz-RU]

OSU scores two straight but Rutgers gets another goal from its second middie line.

OSU up 5-4

 

[Degaz-RU]

Shane Murphy with a slam dunk on a nice feed from Sommer at the X, and Rutgers pulls to 6-5 at the half.

All in all, a solid half against a really good team. Our defense is playing very well, and our ride has bothered OSU and has caused several TOs. And our offense is showing signs in the 2nd quarter, getting several good looks and burying a few. Fyock has also made 3 or 4 good saves or we could be leading.

 

[rbled]

5-6 OSU at the half. Defense playing well as usual. Offense starting to get some looks but need to be more aggressive early in possessions. The later it gets in the possession our offense gets more stagnant. Too many shot clock violations.

I don’t understand why we are so quick to sub when we flip to offense. We have a distinct advantage with our dmids vs their omids. We should be passing that advantage more.

 

[Roy_Faulker]

Am at the game in my Rutgers gear. Fans are loud.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Paolatto with a quick goal to start the 2nd half and Rutgers ties it 6-6!

 

[Wagram97]

Have to admit, the announcer is explaining a lot of what’s wrong with the offense. Especially the lack of movement by the players without the ball.

 

[Roy_Faulker]

No call on the equipment violation? Guess we are getting the BIG/tOSU treatment.

 

[mdk01]

First impression RU is playing a hellacious D

 

[Roy_Faulker]

Tasty the difference. 11 vs s 4 saves.

 

[TRU2RU]

OSU color commentator is a condescending prick who constantly makes excuses when ever RU scores

 

[Degaz-RU]

OSU up 9-7 start of 4th quarter. Buckeyes keeping us at arms length because our 6 on 6 offense is struggling.

 

[Degaz-RU]

Game over if we go down by 3 goals

 

[Degaz-RU]

And there it is.

10-7