By Danielle Daniels

August 30, 2024

Ohio State wins its fourth consecutive season opener     

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 14-ranked Ohio State field hockey team (1-0) bested No. 20 UAlbany (0-1) on Friday afternoon 6-1 in their season opener. Graduate student Makenna Webster recorded her second career hat trick as the Buckeyes scored six total times in the final three quarters.

How it Happened

UAlbany struck first with 5:45 left in the first quarter on a penalty corner. Ohio State answered in the second, notching two goals before the half.

The Buckeyes opened scoring in the second half with a buzzer-beater goal at the end of the third quarter. Ohio State would then score three more unanswered goals in the fourth.

How The Goals Were Scored

• UAlbany had the first goal of the game on a penalty corner, despite back-to-back saves by Abby Danson and Katie Fichtner.
• Junior Zella Bailey scored first for the Buckeyes at the 18:11 mark
• Webster notched her 24th career goal with less than a minute left in the first half, thanks to an assist by sophomore Anne-Marie Krebs.
• Sophomore Brenna Bough scored on a penalty corner with 9.2 seconds left in the third.
• Webster rattled off two more goals in the fourth to complete the hat trick (48:59 and 53:46)
• Sophomore Reagan Eickhoff logged her first career goal as a Buckeye late in the fourth quarter

Buckeye This and That

• Today’s win lifts the Buckeyes to 4-0 in their last 4 season openers and 5-2 during the Jarred Martin era.
• Today’s six goals are the most scored in a season opener since 2019 when Ohio State topped UMass 7-0.
• Friday’s game featured senior Jenna Zunic for Ohio State playing against her sisters, Julianne and Rylee of UAlbany. The sisters are triplets.

Statistically Speaking

Shots: Ohio State 18, UAlbany 11

Penalty Corners: Ohio State 4, UAlbany 4

Saves: Ohio State 5, UAlbany 6

Scoring Summary: UAlbany – 5:45 Q1 Mara Kuskes (unassisted); OSU – 18:11 Q2 Zella Bailey (unassisted); OSU – 29:18 Q2 Makenna Webster (Anne Marie Krebs); OSU – 44:49 Q3 Brenna Bough (Makenna Webster/Anne Marie Krebs) OSU – 48:59 Q4 Makenna Webster (unassisted); OSU – 53:46 Q4 Makenna Webster (unassisted); OSU – 59:16 Q4 Reagan Eickhoff (unassisted)

What’s On Tap
The Buckeyes will face the Bucknell Bisons on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Buckeye Varsity Field. Information on stats and how to stream can be found on the schedule page of OhioStateBuckeyes.com.

#GoBucks

The People. The Tradition. The Excellence.

COURTESY OHIO STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS