Hopmann's OT Goal Silences Ohio State
by Jeff Seidel | Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
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| UMBC's Kyle Wimer rolls back near the goal line during the Retrievers' 9-8, overtime victory Saturday over Ohio State. |
CATONSVILLE, Md. -- UMBC midfielder Peet Poillon did not have the Ohio State game circled on his calendar.
The senior transferred to UMBC this year after playing his first three seasons for the Buckeyes, but he looked at Saturday's game with his former school as just that -- another game.
"It was fun," Poillon said. "It was close. I wish it wouldn't have been that tight , but it was good."
The game didn't start out tight, as No. 7 UMBC took a quick four-goal lead, but Ohio State battled back and forced overtime. That's when Alex Hopmann scored 1:16 into the extra period to give the Retrievers a 9-8 victory Saturday over Ohio State at UMBC Stadium.
Poillon said it took him a few moments to adjust when coming out on the field for warm-ups and seeing Ohio State on the other side.
"It was pretty weird for the first 10 minutes," Poillon said. "I didn't feel like it was emotional. But then...it was just like any other game."
Poillon finished with one goal, but it proved to be a crucial one. Ohio State (4-3) bounced back from the 4-0 first-quarter deficit to take a 6-5 lead early in the fourth quarter. But Hopmann -- who finished with four goals -- tied it with 14:10 left.
The Buckeyes were trying to move the ball around near the top of the box when Doug Ruhnke dropped a pass. Poillon quickly pounced on the loose ball, raced downfield and scored on a quick shot from just inside the box for a 7-6 lead.
"He wanted to take me behind the cage but just [dropped it]," Poillon said. "I knew that it was a 4-on-3, and they weren't really settled. It worked out."
Matt Latham gave the Retrievers (5-2) a two-goal lead 26 seconds later when he scored off a nice feed from long-stick defenseman Steve Settembrino -- his first career assist. But Ohio State forced overtime with goals from James Green (two goals) and Mario Ventiquattro.
The Buckeyes also were helped by a strong game from goalie Brandon Freeman. He made 14 saves and kept Ohio State close until the offense awakened after the first period.
But UMBC hung in and played tough defense in the final minute as the Buckeyes tried for a game-winning shot.
Matt Curtin, who took four of six faceoffs after being inserted in the second half, won the draw in overtime for the Retrievers, which set up the game-winning play.
Kyle Wimer dodged to draw a slide, which left Hopmann open near the top of the box. Hopmann took Wimer's quick pass and fired a high shot past Freeman to win it.
"I had been shooting low," Hopmann. "But I switched it up and went high."
This was the fourth time in five years that the Ohio State-UMBC game went to overtime. The Retrievers have won their last seven overtime games.
UMBC coach Don Zimmerman liked how the Retrievers remained under control even after they saw a four-goal lead dissolve into a one-goal, fourth-quarter deficit. Ohio State played more aggresively on defense in the final three quarters and slowed the UMBC offense.
"We didn't hit any panic button," Zimmerman said. "We just regrouped and were able to win it at the end."
