The late summer lull requires a look ahead to six months from now, when the 2025 college lacrosse season begins.
Most transfer players have found their place and most coaching positions are filled. And while it’s too early to know the exact makeup of each team—most schools haven’t even released their rosters yet—it’s never too early to make predictions about who the top contenders will be.
Next up: Nos. 20-16.
Back: No. 25-21
20. STATE OF OHIO
Record 2024: 6-9 (1-4 Big Ten)
Last seen: Three consecutive one-goal losses to eventual NCAA tournament teams were followed by a 15-9 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten quarterfinals.
Estimated lost starts: 45 of 150 (30 percent)
Expected score at departure: 43 out of 233 points (18.5 percent)
First forecast: The Buckeyes deserve credit for their improvement last season and can return to the backbone of a strong defensive line in second-year goalie Caleb Fyock (.517 save percentage), especially if defenseman Bobby Van Buren recovers sufficiently from the injury that cost him a lot of time last season.
But a perfectly reasonable question after last season – when Ohio State was a 26.6 percent shooting percentage as a team – is, “Can these guys score?” The Buckeyes have failed to score more than 10 goals in five of their last seven games (six against Big Ten opponents and one against Denver), and that simply won’t be enough against top competition in the mid-2020s.
If the offense improves, Ohio State could be a secret favorite to reach the NCAA Tournament. And if not, next spring will be a lot like last, when the Buckeyes’ inability to get deep into double digits made up for the stingy nature of their defense.
