May 6, 2006

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. -Ohio State scored the first three goals of the second half to break open a tie game en route to a 12-9 victory over No. 16 Army at Michie Stadium Saturday night.

The loss ruined any hopes the Black Knights (8-7) entertained of receiving an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament, while the Buckeyes (7-6) remained perfect against Army in four career meetings.

In a back-and-forth first half, which saw five ties and just one lead bigger than a single goal, Ohio State knotted the score with two minutes to go on a goal by Jon DeCanio that sent the two teams into the break at 6-6.

Out of the intermission, the Buckeyes exploded for three unanswered goals that would prove to be the final difference as the visitors completely dominated the middle 30 minutes of the contest. Ohio State outscored Army 9-5 in the second and third quarters, while winning the ground balls by a 23-11 margin and forcing 12 of the Black Knights' 23 turnovers on the night.

Kevin Buchanan started the onslaught with the second of his four tallies at the 13:35 mark of the third frame. Jeff Buck followed with his first career goal at 8:10, and Jason Bloom notched his seventh of the season one minute later to put the Buckeyes in front, 9-6.

Matt Scheel ended the string with an extra-man marker at 4:06. However, Buchanan finished off his four-goal game with back-to-back tallies, the second giving Ohio State its biggest lead of the evening at 11-7.

Army defenseman Matt Luyster finished off a clear with a spectacular individual effort and a goal at the 9:02 point of the final stanza. But Joel Delgarno scored his second of the game and 24th of the season to restore the visitor's four-goal lead.

Scheel completed his hat trick with 54 seconds remaining in the game to close out the scoring.

Mike Obringer also contributed a hat trick for the Black Knights, and Jon Burton netted two goals. Craig Nolan recorded three goals for Ohio State.

Army goalkeeper Adam Fullerton made 11 saves in the cage, while his counterpart John Bolen registered eight stops.