No. 10 Women’s Hockey Plays Host To No. 7 Wildcats – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/26/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Oct. 26, 2000
COLUMBUS, Ohio-The Ohio State women’s ice hockey team (2-1-0 overall, 1-1-0 in the WCHA) kicked off WCHA play in a big way. The Buckeyes split their two-game series with defending national champion, No. 2 Minnesota last weekend, losing, 6-2, Saturday, and defeating the Golden Gophers, 4-2, Sunday.
ON TAP THIS WEEKEND
Ranked for the first time in the program’s two-year history, the Buckeyes prepare to face ECAC heavyweight, No. 7 New Hampshire (1-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 in the ECAC), this weekend.
“I’m very pleased with the progress our team is making, from the Toronto game, to the Findlay game, to the Minnesota series,” Jackie Barto, OSU head coach, said. “We want to look at things game-by-game and we look forward to the opportunity to play Friday night at home in our building. We’re going to come out, work hard and set the tone for the game. Hopefully, we’ll have another good weekend.”
BUCKEYES SWEEP LEAGUE AWARDS
The WCHA announced Tuesday it has named Shana Frost Player of the Week and Kelli Halcisak Rookie of the Week for the week ending Oct. 22.
Frost, who was named Player of the Week for the second time in her career, recorded four points over the weekend. The sophomore assisted on both Buckeye goals Saturday. Her two goals Sunday, including a power-play goal, helped the Buckeyes to a 4-2 upset victory and their first win over Minnesota.
A former Shattuck-St. Mary’s standout, Halcisak also tallied four points against Minnesota. She assisted on the first goal of the game Saturday and scored her first collegiate goal and added two assists Sunday.
BUCKEYES IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
In the Top 10 poll released Monday by U.S. College Hockey Online, the Ohio State women’s ice hockey team is ranked tenth in the nation. The ranking is a first for the program and comes following OSU’s 4-2 win over Minnesota Sunday.
Two other Western Collegiate Hockey Association teams are among the Top 10–No. 2 Minnesota and No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth.
The poll consists of ten voters, all coaches from Division I teams.
The Buckeyes received four votes in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll this week.
HEAD COACH JACKIE BARTO
Jackie Barto enters her second season at the helm of the Ohio State women’s ice hockey program. She was named the first head coach in the program’s history Dec. 14, 1998. Barto led the squad to an 8-26-3 overall record and a 6-15-3 WCHA conference finish in its inaugural season last year. In addition, she coached the Buckeyes in their first-ever postseason tournament, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Championship. There, the No. 5-seeded Buckeyes upset higher seeds No. 4 St. Cloud and No. 3 Wisconsin to claim third place.
Barto came to Ohio State from Providence College, where she was the head coach of the Friars for five years. Under Barto’s guidance, the PC women’s hockey program flourished, compiling a record of 70-53-10 in her four years at the helm.
SCOUTING NEW HAMPSHIRE
The New Hampshire Wildcats entered the 2000-01 season at No. 5 in the ECAC Coaches’ Preseason Poll, behind Dartmouth, Brown, Harvard and Northeastern, respectively. Ninth-year head coach Karen Kay returns 18 letterwinners to a squad that is looking to improve on a 24-10-0 record and an ECAC quarterfinal finish last season.
The Wildcats lost four of their five top scorers to graduation and will look for offensive leadership from senior captain and top returning scorer Michelle Thornton.
Sophomore goalie Jennifer Huggon returns for another season between the pipes for the Wildcats. In her rookie season, Huggon emerged as the top goalie with a 14-7-0 record and 1.99 goals against average.
THE WILDCATS-LAST TIME OUT
New Hampshire opened its regular season Oct. 25 against Findlay at Clauss Ice Arena. The Wildcats shut down the Oilers, 7-0, behind Thornton’s hat trick.
THE BUCKEYES-WILDCATS SERIES
The Buckeyes are 0-2 overall against the Wildcats. The two teams last met Jan. 1-2, 2000 at Towse Rink at Durham, N.H. UNH won both games, shutting out the Buckeyes, 7-0 and 5-0.
COACH BARTO ON NEW HAMPSHIRE
“We’re very excited to play New Hampshire this weekend. The tradition at UNH is outstanding. They’ve been one of the top programs in the country for a long time.”
MINNESOTA SERIES RECAP
Ohio State lost, 6-2, to Minnesota, Saturday, Oct. 20 at Mariucci Arena. Two Buckeye freshmen, defender Emma Laaksonen and center Jeanne Chapple, scored the lone OSU goals. Shana Frost picked up two assists.
Behind outstanding offensive play, the Buckeyes defeated Minnesota, 4-2, Sunday afternoon. Shana Frost had a two-goal game and Kelli Halcisak added a goal and two assists.
Halcisak registered her first career goal at the 14:51 mark and tied the game at one. Frost scored her first of the season, at 5:48 in the second period. The Buckeyes extended their lead to 3-1 at 14:37 when Corinne Rosen scored the gamewinner–her third of the season and second unassisted goal.
At 5:20 in the second period, Frost scored her second of the game, a power-play goal.
OSU converted 2-of-8 power- play opportunities on the weekend and UM went 1 for 6. The Buckeyes outshot the Gophers, 45-35 and OSU goalie April Stojak recorded 27 saves in two games.
COACH BARTO ON THE WEEKEND
“It was a very exciting weekend for us. Our goal was to go into Mariucci and work hard, play within our systems. We thought good things would happen if we did that. I’m very pleased with the way we played both Saturday and Sunday in terms of our effort and level of intensity on the ice. The outcome Sunday was a big step for our program, and I’m excited about our enthusiasm. If we continue to play that way and work hard, good things will continue to happen to our team.”
ON A POWER [PLAY] TRIP
Two out of six OSU goals against Minnesota were power-play goals as the Buckeyes went 2-for-8 with the advantage.
Currently, Ohio State leads the WCHA in power-play percentage, having converted 5-of-13 (38.5%) opportunities.
Last season, OSU converted 17-of-193 power-play opportunities, or 8.8%.
BUCKEYES KILLING PENALTIES
The Buckeyes held the Gophers scoreless through five of six penalties last weekend. UM’s one power-play goal was the first time this season an opponent has scored a power-play goal on the OSU penalty-kill unit.
Ohio State leads the WCHA in penalty kills, with 7-of-8, or 87.5%, and is last in the league in penalty minutes, with 20.
Last season, OSU led the nation in penalties/minutes (277/573).
OSU OUTSHOOTS OPPONENTS
The Buckeyes outshot the defending national champion Gophers, 45-35. UM was held to just 19 shots Saturday and 16 Sunday.
In its first three games, OSU has outshot its opponents, 84-52.
THERE’S “FROST” ON THE ICE!
Shana Frost was on fire last weekend against Minnesota. The sophomore right wing assisted on both OSU goals Saturday and scored two of her own, including the gamewinner, Sunday. Frost’s four points over the weekend were her first of the season.
“Shana played very well all weekend,” Barto said. “The one thing I would stress is how hard she worked. So far, she has really made things happen for us offensively.”
Frost was second on the team in scoring in her rookie season, with 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points.
HALCISAK MAKING THINGS HAPPEN
WCHA Rookie of the Week honoree Kelli Halcisak has posted big numbers in her first three games as a Buckeye. The freshman defender picked up two assists against Findlay Oct. 15, one more against UM Oct. 21 and a goal and two assists Oct. 22.
“Kelli made a major defensive contribution and played a solid two-game series [against Minnesota],” Barto said. “It is great to see such impressive offensive play from a rookie defender.”
Halcisak leads the team in scoring (1-5=6) and leads the WCHA in defenseman scoring and power-play points (4).
ROSEN CLOSE TO CENTURY MARK
Senior center Corinne Rosen scored the game-winning goal Sunday against Minnesota. She currently is tied for first in the WCHA in the game-winning goals category with two in three games.
Rosen’s three goals this season move her three points closer to the century mark for career points. Currently, the former Providence College standout is 47-45=92 in her career, only eight points away from 100.
SOLID STOJAK
Sophomore April Stojak has held her own between the pipes for the Buckeyes through the first three games.
Stojak recorded her first win of the season against Findlay, stopping 16-of-17 Oiler shots. Against Minnesota, Stojak recorded 13 saves Saturday and 14 Sunday, for the win. She currently has a 3.00 gaa and an .827 save percentage.
FINNISH FLASH
Although frosh Emma Laaksonen (pronounced lak-SAN-en) stands at only 5 feet 3 inches tall, opposing offenses are starting to realize she’s a force to be reckoned with on the ice. Laaksonen has recorded points in all three games for the Buckeyes, including two -consecutive first goals, both on the power-play.
GILL GETS ON THE BOARD
Carrie Gill scored the first two points of her career against Minnesota. The sophomore left wing recorded an assist in each game of the series.
FRESHMEN ON ICE
Of the six freshman Buckeyes who have played this season, five have recorded points. Freshmen account for 11 of 25 total team points–Halcisak has six , Laaksonen has three, Chapple has two and Erin O’Grady has one.
NON-CONFERENCE STILL COUNTS
This year, the NCAA will sponsor a women’s ice hockey championship for the first time. For the past three years, the American Women’s College Hockey Alliance has sponsored the championships. The event will be held at Minnesota’s Mariucci Arena, March 23-25, 2001, in Minneapolis, Minn.
Since there are no automatic bids to the championships, every non-conference win for the Buckeyes this season is a step in the right direction for the WCHA. More wins equal more bids.
CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED
Corinne Rosen, Lindsey Ogren, Melissa Glaser and Emily Hudak have been named captains for the 2000-01 season.
Rosen led the team in goals (16), assists (17) and points (33). Ogren finished third on the team in scoring with 10 goals and five assists, equaling 15 points. She was the lone member of the Buckeye squad to earn a spot on the inaugural WCHA All-Tournament Team.Glaser appeared in 21 games between the pipes last season and averaged 26.4 saves per game. She also carried a 3.20 goals against average and a .895 save percentage. Hudak led the Buckeye defense in goals (6) and assists (6) last season and led the entire team in shots on goal with 143.
FOLLOW THE BUCKEYES ONLINE
Information on the Ohio State women’s hockey team, was well as the 34 other Buckeye sports, is available online at the official website of OSU athletics, ohiostatebuckeyes.com. For up-to-the minute women’s hockey scores, statistics and standings around the league and the nation, check out collegehockeystats.com.
ON TAP FOR NEXT WEEKEND
OSU travels to Bemidji, Minn. to take on conference foe Bemidji State. The Buckeyes battle the Beavers at 7:05 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 and 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at John S. Glas Fieldhouse.
