Call 2025 the Year of the Buckeyes, as Ohio State buries Maryland early, then stifles the Terps late to win the first ever Big Ten Tournament championship for either Buckeye program! Insufferable run on sentence aside, this game was absolutely epic. Epic. Caleb Fyock should be a First Team All-American TONIGHT. The Ohio State offense had its best performance of the season, the decade, AND the millennium. No naysaying tonight, it's all about that SHIP!!
THE Ohio State Buckeyes scored 5 straight goals to open the game, blindsiding Maryland before the Terrapins knew which end was up. A Maryland goal to get it to 5-1 was immediately answered, amd thus began the chess match.
Every Terrapin goal seemed to have a Buckeye answer, even though the score ended up at 9-5 going into the half. Ohio State broke out a new(ish) 2-4 look on offense which sparked their early run.
A high ball screen near the restraining line, combined with off ball movement down low, had not been seen much of the year. And the Buckeyes used it to devastating effect.
Maryland, being Maryland, adjusted somewhat. But that opened up options that Ohio State had been using all year. Shane O'Leary scored a lovely goal after the crease attackman pulled the crease defender almost to the sideline, leaving the middle of the field WIDE open.
Ohio State scored 2 goals to open the 3rd quarter, effectively putting the game on ice as a result of their keeper going out of his mind. Caleb Fyock is an absolute stud goalkeeper. Buckeyes don't win without his insane 19 saves. Most of them came in the 4th quarter, it felt like, as Maryland tried to close the gap.
Fyock turned aside shot after shot, keeping a 4-goal lead safe as precious seconds ticked away. Ohio State essentially went to the victory formation early on in the 4th, violating the shot clock over and over.
With any other goalie, it's an insanely risky venture. Fyock made everything look like genius, however. Ohio State cruises to a 14-10 victory, it's first Big Ten Tournament win, and its highest NCAA tournament seed ever. Oh, and won it all against their second biggest rival, IN Ann Arbor, while the Wolverines packed their lockers and began their professional careers.
Pinch me, I'm dreaming. EVERYTHING is turning up Buckeye this calendar year. I can't WAIT to see what the next games have in store. Selection is tomorrow.
Ohio State is IN. And they're going to get a great, great opportunity to meet Cornell in the title game. There's no guarantees. But Ohio State has stopped choking when it mattered just in time for the most winnable national tournament ever.
Let's. Freaking. GO.
Go Bucks!!!
