Salt Lax City Upsets Ohio State, 19-13, for Season Opener

Saturday, February 1

Columbus, OH

10:00 a.m.

University of Utah

1-0

Ohio State

0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UTAH	6	3	4	6	19
Ohio State	2	5	3	3	13

Salt Lax City Upsets Ohio State, 19-13, for Season Opener

2/1/2025 2:03 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score

First win against a ranked opponent in the season opener in program history

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The University of Utah lacrosse team started its season with an upset, beating no. 19 Ohio State University 19-13 at the Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Utes started the game strong, putting the first point on the board with 9:34 on the clock on the first quarter, thanks to sophomore Cade Faulkner. Ohio State would go on to level out the score just one minute later, but that would be the last time the Buckeyes would see a tied game.

Utah would go on to make a 5-1 run to finish out the first quarter, before earning three more points in the second 15. The Utes scored a total of ten goals in the second half and sealed the six-point victory after outshooting Ohio State 43-39, 34 of which were on target, and winning 23 of the 34 face offs.

GAME LEADERS
Utah had six different players contribute goals and three players collect five points. Freshman Luke McNamara lead the Utes with a career-high five goals and 12 shots with senior Cody Hart right behind, pitching in a career-high four goals and five points. Junior Ryan Stines was the third Ute to mark five points after he scored two goals and assisted with three others.

Defensively, juniors Nikko DiPonio and Tyler Kloeckl led the squad nine groundballs, DiPonio also achieving one caused turnover. Kloeckl also led the squad in faceoffs, winning 21-of-29, while in goal, sophomore Colin Lenskold recorded 12 saves.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Three Utes each tallied five points, McNamara and Hart marking a career-high in both goals and points.
The Utes had 44 groundballs, the ninth highest in program history, while the 23 won faceoffs ties for sixth.
Ohio State is the first ranked opponent Utah has taken down this season and the first ranked opponent to fall since beating no. 10 Jacksonville, 18-15, in 2023.
This is the first time Utah has beat a ranked opponent in the season opener in program history and the first time the Utes have won their season opener since they defeated Bellarmine in 2020.

UP NEXT
The Utes will host Delaware for their home opener at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 8 starting at 12 p.m. MT, with tickets available here.