The Cooldown: Ohio State Makes History; Kirst Ties NCAA Goal Record

Michigan and Ohio State at the end of the regular season with the Big Ten championship on the line? Bo and Woody would have been proud.

One of college football’s best rivalries is starting to become that way on the lacrosse field and the three yards and a cloud of dust mantra of Big Ten football would have aptly described Saturday’s game. Defense ruled the day until Ohio State rallied late with five goals in the final 5:23 of the game to beat Michigan 10-8 to win its first Big Ten regular season championship.

Neither team scored in the first 10 minutes of the game and the first half yielded just a combined five goals, but it was still riveting to watch. Ohio State’s Caleb Fyock – AKA as Big Tasty – saved the first four shots he saw, but Michigan’s Hunter Taylor was just as impressive. Taylor finished with 14 saves while Fyock ended with 12.

Ohio State defender Bobby Van Buren was his usual lockdown self, showcasing excellent footwork, while Michigan’s Pace Billings used his stickwork to help create four caused turnovers.

The slugfest appeared ready to turn in favor of the home team – much to the delight of the packed house of 2,835 – as Michigan scored five times in the third quarter and took an 8-5 lead on John Morgan’s second goal with 12 minutes to play.

Michigan worked the clock on its next few possessions, but Ohio State had an answer with Gannon Matthews ripping in back-to-back shots from the right wing to bring the Buckeyes within one.

Shane O’Leary then tied it up with 2:45 left on an unlikely goal as he was falling backwards before getting a high bouncer to go.

Shane. O'Leary. 😤

OSU 8, UM 8 // Q4 - 2:45 // #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/6MWLiYbrcQ

— Ohio State Men's Lacrosse (@OhioStateMLAX) April 19, 2025

Ed Shean then played the hero for the Buckeyes as Garrett Haas made a nice move behind the cage and fed Shean in front of the goal. Shean went sidearm and used two Michigan defenders to screen Taylor’s vision on the go-ahead goal with 1:45 left. The Buckeyes sealed it when Matthews ran past a double-team from two poles to score an empty-netter.

Buckeyes back in front 🚨

Shean with his second of the day

OSU 9, UM 8 // Q4 - 1:50 // #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/ewSqxwK0U9

— Ohio State Men's Lacrosse (@OhioStateMLAX) April 19, 2025

The victory gives Ohio State its first regular season Big Ten championship, a pretty surprising development for a team coming off of a 6-9 season that opened 2025 with a humbling 19-13 loss to Utah.

The Buckeyes, who had lost four straight to Michigan, will be coming back to Ann Arbor for the Big Ten tournament in two weeks.