The Buckeyes stand together prior to their 3-1 victory against Bowling Green State University on Oct. 25 at Value City Arena. Credit: Danielle Hershenson | Lantern photographer
Ohio State’s spotless start to the 2024-25 season came to an end last weekend, as the team dropped a pair of contests to No. 4 Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan.
Now, the No. 14 Buckeyes (7-2-1, 2-2-0 Big Ten) look to get back into the win column, as they travel to St. Charles, Missouri, for a two-game series with Lindenwood University (2-7-1). Puck drop is set for 8:10 p.m. Friday and 3:10 p.m. Saturday — both at the Centene Community Ice Center.
Ohio State defenseman Aiden Hansen-Bukata said the Buckeyes’ pair of losses to Michigan State was a wake-up call.
“I think last weekend was a punch in the gut to all of us,” Hansen-Bukata said. “It just shows that we’ve got to bring the intensity up and make sure we’re ready to go when the puck drops.
Michigan State outscored Ohio State 8-3 in the two games. Hansen-Bukata said the Buckeyes were simply outplayed and out-hustled by the Spartans.
“I think they out-competed us everywhere along the ice,” Hansen-Bukata said. “They were way hungrier than us all weekend, and it showed on the scoreboard.”
Ohio State assistant coach JB Bittner said the Buckeyes’ intensity needs to increase prior to this weekend’s series with Lindenwood.
“Hopefully the Michigan State series can be a learning experience for us because our compete needs to be higher,” Bittner said.
Lindenwood, led by first-year head coach Bill Muckalt, is now 10 games into its third season as an NCAA Division I program.
The Lions have yet to amass 10 wins in a season at the Division I level, finishing 7-22-1 in their 2022-23 campaign and 6-18-4 last year.
Up to this point, all 10 of the Lions’ contests have been on the road, with four of them against top-10 teams.
Lindenwood split a two-game set in Madison, Wisconsin, against the then-No. 9 Badgers Oct. 11 and 12, before dropping a pair in Colorado last weekend to No. 1 Denver.
Bittner said the Lions’ record doesn’t truly reflect their abilities, and the Buckeyes need to approach the game with that in mind.
“I’ve watched some of their games and we played them last year; they’re a tough opponent,” Bittner said. “A lot of their games that they’ve lost this year, they’ve been in or leading — a break here or there and their record could be flipped.”
Of the Lions’ seven losses, four came by two goals or less, with their first three coming by single-goal margins.
Lindenwood defenseman David Gagnon leads the Lions in goals, assists and points, with four, four and eight, respectively.
Despite this, Gagnon hasn’t found the back of the net for five consecutive games, with his last goal being Oct. 25 in the Lions’ 4-2 win against Miami University, and has logged just one point since.
Freshman forward Tyler Loughman has been the bright spot as of late for the Lions, as the rookie accounted for both of Lindenwood’s goals over the weekend against Denver.
Hansen-Bukata said the Buckeyes’ approach in games shouldn’t depend on whether they’re viewed as the underdogs or the favorites.
“Going into Lindenwood, I think they’re gonna think they’re the underdogs, but underdog or favorite doesn’t matter,” Hansen-Bukata said. “You’ve got to play the same way no matter what, and hopefully results will come.
