No. 4-Seed Ohio State Loses to No. 1-Seed Minnesota, 5-1 – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
March 13, 2004
Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 4-seed Ohio State women’s ice hockey team fell to No. 1-seed Minnesota, 5-1, Saturday evening in the semifinals of the 2004 WCHA Final Five at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. The Buckeyes fall to 16-15-3 on the season, while the Golden Gophers improve to 27-4-2 overall.
The Buckeyes take on No. 2-seed Wisconsin at 2:05 p.m. EST Sunday in the third place game of the playoffs at Ridder Arena. No. 1-seed Minnesota moves on the face No. 3-seed Minnesota-Duluth at 5:05 p.m. EST Sunday in the championship game. No. 2-seed Wisconsin was upset by No. 3-seed Minnesota-Duluth, 3-1 Saturday afternoon.
Ohio State received two overlapping penalties early in the first period to give Minnesota a 5-on-3 advantage. The Golden Gophers posted the first goal of the game as Natalie Darwitz scored on the power-play opportunity at 4:47. OSU’s Jeni Creary (Shell Lake, Saskatchewan) attempted a top-shelf goal about halfway through the period, but it was whistled off because an OSU player was in the crease. Minnesota soon responded with its second goal at 14:43 by Noelle Sutton. The first period ended with Minnesota leading 2-0 on the scoreboard and 13-2 in shots.
The Buckeyes stepped up their offense tallying 12 shots in the second period, but it was not enough to get past Minnesota’s goalie Jody Horak. The Golden Gophers notched their third and fourth goals of the game, as Darwitz pounded in a goal at 11:18 and Wendell scored at 19:40. Minnesota outshot Ohio State 16-12 in the stanza.
OSU received two overlapping penalties early in the third period, which set the stage for a Minnesota 5-on-3 goal by Kelly Stephens at 1:48. OSU freshman Tessa Bonhomme (Sudbury, Ontario) got the Buckeyes on the scoreboard at 9:10, as she scored on a pass from Heather Farrell (Sr., Perth, Ontario). The Buckeyes received five penalties in the third period, allowing Minnesota 7:04 minutes on the power play. The Golden Gophers received three penalties in the stanza, but the Buckeyes were only on the power play for 3:12 minutes.
OSU goalie Melissa Glaser (Jr., Rockford, Ill.) recorded 36 saves, one shy of the team season-high, on 41 Golden Gopher shots. Minnesota’s Horak stopped 23-of-24 Buckeye chances.
Minnesota outshot Ohio State 41-24. The Buckeyes’ seventh ranked nationally penalty-killing unit could not stop the Golden Gophers as they were 2-for-7 on the power play. OSU was 0-for-3 on the power play.
Postgame Notes
– With the loss, the Buckeyes fall to 7-6-0 all-time in the playoffs.
– Ohio State trails Minnesota 1-2-0 in the WCHA Final Five. The two teams have only met in the semifinal round of the tournament.
– Junior goalie Melissa Glaser recorded 36 saves in the game, just one shy of the team season-high of 37 saves. The previous record was set by Glaser Jan. 3 vs. St. Cloud State and by Erika Vanderveer Feb. 21 vs. Minnesota.
Postgame Quotes
Ohio State head coach Jackie Barto
On the game overall
“We need to give Minnesota credit, they played very well today. We got into the 5-on-3 early in the game and they capitalized on it. The first period made a big difference in the game. We tried to come back, but we hurt ourselves on the first period.”
On Minnesota
“(Krissy) Wendell, (Natalie) Darwitz and (Kelly) Stephens played very well today. Darwitz got her speed and strength back. Their second and third lines made a contribution.”
Ohio State forward captain Erin O’Grady
On the team’s attitude
“We need to help turn the moral of the team up. After Minnesota scored their first two goals we got real quite and we hung our heads. We need to keep the moral of the team up on the bench.”
On the match-up with Wisconsin
“Everyone is disappointed that we didn’t make it to the championship game, but we got a chance to win third place and that is our now our goal.”
Hockey Game Box Score (Final) 2003-04 OHIO STATE WOMEN’S HOCKEY Ohio State vs Minnesota (Mar 13, 2004 at Minneapolis, Minn.)
Ohio State (16-15-3, 10-12-2) vs. Minnesota (27-4-2, 19-3-2) Date: Mar 13, 2004 Location: Minneapolis, Minn. Arena: Ridder Arena Attendance:1262 Start time:4:05 pm End time:6:10 pm Total time:2:05
Goals by Period 1 2 3 Tot ———————————- Ohio State………. 0 0 1 – 1 Minnesota……….. 2 2 1 – 5
1st period – 1, MINN, Natalie Darwitz/23 (Krissy Wendell/35, Ashley Albrecht/14) 4:47 (pp). 2, MINN, Noelle Sutton/11 (Melissa Coulombe/9) 14:43. Penalties – Krysta Skarda, OSU (checking) 3:35; Emma Laaksonen, OSU (tripping) 4:31. 2nd period – 3, MINN, Natalie Darwitz/24 (Ashley Albrecht/15) 11:18. 4, MINN, Krissy Wendell/41 (Ashley Albrecht/16) 19:40. Penalties – 3rd period – 5, MINN, Kelly Stephens/17 (Natalie Darwitz/33, Krissy Wendell/36) 1:48 (pp). 6, OSU, Tessa Bonhomme/4 (Heather Farrell/17) 9:10. Penalties – Erin O’Grady, OSU (roughing) :22; Tessa Bonhomme, OSU (high sticking) 1:16; Becky Wacker, MINN (roughing) 2:06; Erin O’Grady, OSU (high sticking) 3:36; Heather Farrell, OSU (roughing) 4:46; Allie Sanchez, MINN (interference) 9:46; Jaclyn Haines, OSU (high sticking) 16:20; Jerilyn Glenn, MINN (interference) 19:08. Shots on goal – OSU 2-12-10 24; MINN 13-16-12 41. Power plays – OSU 0 of 3; MINN 2 of 7. Penalties – OSU 7 (14 min); MINN 3 (6 min). Goalies – OSU, Melissa Glaser 11-12-2 (59:59 minutes, 41 shots-36 saves) , EMPTY NET (00:01, 0-0); MINN, Jody Horak 19-4-2 (60:00, 24-23). A-1262 T-2:05. Three stars: 1. None 2. None 3. None. Referee:Rick Larsen Linesman:Kelli O’Brian; Leah Wrazidlo Win-Jody Horak (19-4-2). Loss-Melissa Glaser (11-12-2).
