Women’s Hockey Set For Road Battle With No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Feb. 7, 2001
Ohio State
(11-12-3/8-7-3 WCHA)
vs.
Minnesota-Duluth
(19-4-3/11-4-3 WCHA)
COLUMBUS, Ohio-The Ohio State women’s hockey team (11-12-3 overall, 8-7-3 in the WCHA) will head north once again to the “Land of 1,000 Lakes,” Minnesota, to face top-ranked Minnesota-Duluth. The Buckeyes and Bulldogs square off for their second series of the season, this time at the DECC Arena, at 8:05 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 and Saturday, Feb. 10.
Last Weekend
Ohio State is coming off a pair of conference wins over MSU, Mankato. The Buckeyes played host to the Mavericks and extended their unbeaten streak to four games, winning 4-1 Friday and 5-1 Saturday.
Schedule Change
The game times and dates for the WCHA series between Ohio State and St. Cloud State have been changed to Saturday, Feb. 24 and Sunday, Feb. 25. Both games at SCSU’s National Hockey Center will begin at 12:05 p.m. EST.
MSU, Mankato Series Recap
In a weekend series laden with penalties, the Buckeyes came out on top, sweeping the MSU, Mankato Mavericks.
Kelli Halcisak tallied two goals and an assist and three other Buckeyes had multiple-point games to help the Buckeyes defeat the Mavericks, 5-1, Saturday.
Emma Laaksonen got things rolling at 9:57 in the first stanza with a power-play goal from Jeanne Chapple and Emily Hudak. Halcisak extended the Buckeyes’ lead to two at 16:49, lighting the lamp for the 10th time this season. With 27 seconds remaining in the first period, Shana Frost scored, picking off Halcisak’s pass. Neither team was able to convert in the second, as OSU outshot MSU, 10-2. At 1:13 in the third, Erin O’Grady fired off a shot, Heather Farrell grabbed the rebound and found O’Grady again for a 4-on-4 goal. Cara Samuelson scored MSU’s only goal at 6:08. At 12:50, Halcisak collected a pass from O’Grady and went on a breakaway, bypassing two Maverick defenders and slipping the puck past MSU goalie Katie Beauduy.
Farrell scored the first goal of her college career Friday and three other Buckeyes tallied multiple points to help lead OSU past MSU, 4-1.
Ohio State outshot Mankato, 80-31 in the weekend series. Buckeye goalie April Stojak recorded 29 saves in two games for a .935 save percentage.
The Buckeyes converted on 4-of-14 power-play opportunities, or 28.6 percent. The Mavericks were 2-for-17, with their only two goals coming on the power play.
Head Coach Jackie Barto
Jackie Barto is in 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-seed 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. Under Barto’s guidance, the PC women’s hockey program flourished, compiling a record of 70-53-10 in her five years at the helm.
In The National Spotlight
In the Top 10 poll released last Tuesday by U.S. College Hockey Online, the Ohio State women’s ice hockey team received five votes. Three Western Collegiate Hockey Association teams are among the Top 10-No. 2 Minnesota, No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth and No. 7 Wisconsin. The poll consists of ten voters, all coaches from Division I teams. This week, the Buckeyes earned one vote in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll.
USA Today/American Hockey Magazine Division I Women’s #16 (As of Feb. 4) Last Team Record Week 1. Dartmouth 18-1-1 1 2. Minnesota 19-4-1 3 3. Minn.-Duluth 19-4-3 2 4. Harvard 13-6-0 5 5. St. Lawrence 15-5-3 4 6. Brown 12-3-3 6 7. Wisconsin 15-5-5 7 8. Northeastern 13-8-1 8 9. New Hampshire 14-13-0 9 10.Providence 15-8-3 10 Others receiving votes: Niagara (3), OHIO STATE (1)
Scouting Minnesota-Duluth
Shannon Miller is in her second year at the helm of the Bulldogs after earning 1999-2000 WCHA Coach of the Year honors. Miller led UMD to a 25-5-3 record and the WCHA title in its inaugural season. The 2000-01 UMD squad has a slight hold on the No. 2 spot in the conference after tying Wisconsin twice over the weekend. The Bulldogs are just four points behind No. 1 Minnesota.
Top returning scorer Maria Rooth leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 26 goals and 23 assists for 49 points. Hanne Sikio follows with 46 points from 23 goals and 23 assists. Sophomore Tuula Puputti is the force to be reckoned with between the pipes for the Bulldogs. In 24 games, Puputti has amassed a .925 save percentage and a 1.64 goals against average. Puputti leads the WCHA in overall save percentage, gaa and winning percentage.
The Bulldogs-Last Time Out
No. 2 UMD and No. 7 Wisconsin were deadlocked at the end their weekend series. The Bulldogs and Badgers skated away with two conference points each after tying, 3-3, Saturday and 2-2 Sunday at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis. Rooth scored twice Saturday to help send the game into overtime. Sunday, Sikio and Erika Holst had the Bulldogs’ only tallies, as UMD outshot UW, 40-23.
The Buckeyes-Bulldogs Series
The Bulldogs hold a 4-1-1 series advantage over the Buckeyes. In the teams’ last meeting Dec. 1, UMD defeated OSU, 7-1. The Buckeyes came back and earned their first victory over the Bulldogs-a 2-0 shutout-Dec. 2. Ohio State is one of only three teams to defeat UMD this season.
Buckeyes On A Hot Streak
Ohio State is 5-1-1 in its last seven contests and unbeaten in four-consecutive games. The Buckeyes have not lost since Jan. 20, when they fell to No. 7 Wisconsin, 3-2, in overtime. OSU is 5-3-1 since returning from its December hiatus, and 4-0-0 at home.
Farrell’s First
Heather Farrell notched her first collegiate goal Friday night against MSU, Mankato. The freshman left wing has 10 points on the season, from a goal and nine assists. Farrell, a native of Perth, Ontario, missed the first eight games of the season due to a bout with mononucleosis.
Leaders of The Pack
Shana Frost and Kelli Halcisak each tallied a goal and an assist Friday to take the lead over all Buckeye scorers. Halcisak then added two goals-including the gamewinner-and an assist Saturday, and Frost scored her 14th of the season. Currently, Halcisak sits atop all Buckeye scorers with 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points and Frost follows with 24 points from 14 goals and 10 assists.
A Race For The Finish
Competition for the WCHA’s Top 3 spots is getting heated as the season enters its final month. Only two points separate Wisconsin from UMD’s No. 2 position and UMD is only four points behind No. 1 Minnesota in the conference standings. The Buckeyes regained fourth place after taking four points from visiting MSU, Mankato. Right now, only one point separates St. Cloud State from Ohio State, which makes the Buckeyes’ upcoming series with UMD that much more crucial.
Both Sides Of The Blue Line
Freshman defenseman Kelli Halcisak, who was named WCHA Rookie of the Week for the week ending Jan. 28, is leading the Buckeye offense in scoring. She had a five-point weekend against MSU, Mankato. Halcisak scored her 9th of the season and assisted on the gamewinner Friday and added her 10th and 11th goals Saturday, including the gamewinner.
On The Defensive Side
Also an integral part of the OSU special teams, Halcisak helped the Buckeyes convert on 4-of-17 power-play opportunities and kill 15-of-17 penalties in the weekend series. Halcisak is tied for No. 5 in the WCHA for defenseman scoring and No. 6 for freshman scoring.
Buckeye Special Teams
The Buckeyes converted on 4-of-14 power-play opportunities against the Mavericks and held MSU to two goals in 17 power-play chances. Currently, Ohio State is 30-for-142 on the power-play, or 21.1%. OSU is No. 2 in the WCHA in penalty kills-behind Minnesota-Duluth-with 113-of-134, or 84.3%
Power-Play Powerhouse
Emma Laaksonen scored her 10th goal of the season Saturday against Mankato. All 10 of Laaksonen’s goals this season have come on the power play. The freshman defender is tied for No. 1 in the WCHA in overall power-play goals with St. Cloud’s Ricki-Lee Doyle and is No. 3 in power-play points with 17.
Racking Up Assists
Emily Hudak has had two assists in each of the Buckeyes’ past three-consecutive contests. The sophomore defenseman, who is No. 2 on the team in assists, has 12 on the season along with one goal for a total of 13 points.
Buckeye Blueliners
The Ohio State defense has allowed 73 goals in 26 games, which places it fourth among its WCHA counterparts.
Defensemen have scored 26 of OSU’s 75 goals this season.
On The Plus Side
Four Buckeyes are on the positive side in the +/- category, as compared to none at this time last season. Kelli Halcisak is +9, Heather Farrell is +5, Emma Laaksonen is +2 and Shana Frost is +1.
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Ohio State held Mankato to just 11 shots Sunday, the fewest the Buckeyes have allowed this season. Currently, the Buckeyes are outshooting their opponents, 873-565. OSU has been outshot only four times this year.
“Oh, Grady!”
Freshman center Erin O’Grady has scored a goal in each of the Buckeyes’ past four-consecutive games. Saturday, she scored her sixth of the season against Mankato and added an assist. Friday, she also had a goal and an assist.
The Netminder
April Stojak has started all 26 games between the pipes for OSU this season, racking up 1,573.13 minutes, an .871 save percentage and a 2.75 gaa. Stojak’s 2.75 gaa ranks her fourth among all WCHA goaltenders.
Rosen In The Spotlight
Corinne Rosen is the featured athlete this week on the official website of the WCHA, www.wcha.com. See her photo and read the article, entitled “In The Spotlight: Ohio State’s Corinne Rosen” at http://www.fansonly.com/schools/wcha/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/020601aaa.html
Ohio State Wins The Cup!
With a 5-4 victory over Findlay Jan. 28, Ohio State was named the 2000 Ohio Cup champion. The Buckeyes are the first to take home the trophy, which will remain in Columbus until Findlay visits the OSU Ice Arena next season.
Follow The Buckeyes Online
Information on the Ohio State women’s hockey team is available online at https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com. For up-to-the minute women’s hockey scores, statistics and standings around the league and the nation, check out http://www.collegehockeystats.com.
WCHA Championship
All seven teams in the WCHA will participate in the WCHA Championships, which will be held March 8, 9 and 10, 2001 at Recreation Center in Rochester, Minn.
Tickets Now Available
The Inaugural NCAA Women’s Frozen Four is being held March 23 and 25, 2001, at Mariucci Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota. All-session tickets are now available. Call the Gopher Ticket Office at (612) 624-8080 or 1-800-UGOPHER, Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Or order online at http://gophersports.com.
Next Up For The Buckeyes
OSU again will enjoy home ice advantage when Minnesota comes to town. The Buckeyes will take on the defending national champion Golden Gophers Feb. 16-17 at the OSU Ice Arena.
