Ohio State : Fall Ball Edition
10/24/2024 08:08 AM
Ohio State : Fall Ball Edition
Ohio State scrimmaged North Carolina on Sunday October 13. The unofficial score was 7-7 at half, 18-13 Buckeyes after four quarters and 23-15 OSU after a fifth quarter. That's a lot of goals – a positive sign for a Buckeye team who struggled to find the back of the net in 2024. Worth noting that Owen Duffy did not play for the Tar Heels.
I spoke with Ohio State coach Nick Myers on my way home from Arkansas this past weekend. "The UNC event was a solid go and we had great crowd in our stadium."
When I asked him about the more potent offense he replied, "We are playing faster than we ever have, and are a bit deeper on offense."
The Buckeyes scrimmaged Robert Morris on Saturday and led 19-7 after four quarters. That's another explosive outing for the offense.
Encouraging signs considering that Ohio State is coming off a (6-9) season in 2024 which was preceded by a (5-9) record in 2023. OSU is a combined (2-11) on the road in the last two years.
In 2024, the Bucks had three straight one-goal losses to post season teams – Maryland, Johns Hopkins and Michigan. Can they morph those one-goal losses into wins?
They return mostly intact this spring with 70% of their starts back and 80% of their scoring remains on the roster. Scoring goals hasn't been easy. They ranked #50 in cumulative shooting percentage (26%) and #41 in cumulative efficiency finishing the year at #22 in the RPI. They averaged just five assists per game (#60).
This fall, the attack rotation is between five seniors and a sophomore who are battling for playing time. Coach Myers told me, "We played two separate attack units evenly in both scrimmages. 8 minute stints each and then switched. I actually liked it."
Key seniors on offense
- Alex Marinier – Ontario native (28,2)
- Jake McKenna – 6-6 241 pounder (21,9)
- Ed Shean – (17,11) California
- Gannon Meyers – Idaho product had (19,7)
- Ben Mayer – Florida native (18,6)
The story is that Ohio State returns foundational producers on offense and added four functional transfers to its core. They're all back, they just have to learn how to pass.
An under-the-radar player to keep an eye on is sophomore Garrett Haas, who has played well in scrimmages against UNC and Romo. He was a freshman last year after playing high school ball in Texas and Utah, being named Utah Mr. Lacrosse in 2021.
Haas is Mormon with seven siblings and spent two years in South Africa after high school on an LDS mission. Predictably, it took a year to recalibrate and catch up to the speed of college lacrosse and to get his body right. Garrett has been a pleasant fall surprise, he's very skilled and surging up the depth chart.
Goalies Henry Blake and Caleb Fyock are currently competing for the role. Fyock, aka Big Tasty, was 52% as a freshman starter. He's listed currently at 6-2 and 297 pounds on the roster.
Scarlet and gray have sufficient bodies at the SSDM spot but lack experience.
The coaching staff returns intact. Over his first 14 seasons in Columbus, coach Nick Myers has won 120 games and is above .500 in the Big Ten. Ohio State's signature moment was the 2017 Final Four and national championship game. Myers has done admirable work raising the profile of lacrosse in Ohio and the Midwest. Travis Crane is the defensive coordinator. Justin Tuma is the offensive coordinator. Andrew Vossler works with the goalie and FOGO's while Mo Lavallee handles the operations.
Coach Myers is searching for more depth at close defense. His top three are solid but he understands the importance of having a viable 4th guy.
- Bobby Van Buren – senior from North Carolina who was home schooled in high school.
- Cullen Brown – Jr from Landon.
- Kyle Foster – Soph from BL.
- Jonny Cool is the LSM, a junior from McDonogh School in Baltimore.
Ace defender Bobby Van Buren was injured in 2024, costing him most of the season. Van Buren got hurt in the Robert Morris scrimmage last weekend. OSU is waiting on an MRI and holding their breath.
With external competitions done for the semester, 8 hour segments are next. That means passing & shooting sessions for offensive players in small groups, approaches & recoveries for d-men and plenty of reps for FOGO's and goalies. OSU will hit the weights hard and bring their conditioning levels upward as January inches closer.
The 2025 spring schedule is comparable to prior editions. OSU opens with Utah. Their big non-league games will be UVA in Columbus with trips to Notre Dame and Denver. The Big Ten slate is standard.
Ohio State looks better on paper in 2025. If they can win the inches, I can see (6-9) flipping to (9-6) or to even a 10+ win campaign.
