Gannon Matthews was the catalyst for Ohio State during its Big Ten Championship win over Maryland in college lacrosse. He lost three teeth while getting clobbered on his first shot of the game, which not only went in, but inspired the Buckeyes to play with reckless abandon.
The violent hit did not take him out of the game!
Matthews played the first two years of his college lacrosse career at Cleveland State and was named as the ASUN Midfielder of the Year in 2023, which allowed him the opportunity to transfer up. The 6-foot-0, 188-pound senior started all 14 games for Ohio State last season and plays an integral role on both sides of the field in 2025. The Buckeyes run a large portion of its offense through Matthews and he is an important piece on the front line of their defense.
His hat trick in the fourth quarter against Michigan helped the scarlet and grey to secure its first-ever Big Ten regular season title last month.
Gannon Matthews was just as important during the Big Ten Tournament Final. He kicked things off with an unassisted goal on the first shot of the game during the first minute of the first quarter. It was on a slick lefty dodge that split a pair of defenders and found the back of the net.
Defense leads to offense 😤
— Ohio State Men's Lacrosse (@OhioStateMLAX) May 4, 2025
CB with the CT 👉 Matthews with the goal#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/p230NEueIU
Matthews got absolutely crushed while letting it rip. Maryland long pole Will Schaller laid him out with a vicious slobberknocker. The hit was so big that you can feel it in your bones— one of those ones where you clench up just watching it.
Gannon Matthews is a warrior!
Although Matthews scored and ultimately sparked Ohio State’s win, he lost three teeth in the process.
That did not stop him from staying in the game! Gannon Matthews took a moment to gather himself, swapped out his blood-covered jersey and got right back on the field in the next rotation.
Ohio State earned the No. 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament as the outright Big Ten champion. Matthews, down three teeth, will hope to keep the momentum rolling in the first round against reigning champion Notre Dame!