Women’s Hockey Faces No. 1 Wisconsin in First WCHA Series of `06-07 – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Oct. 12, 2006
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s hockey team (2-0-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) hosts No. 1/1 Wisconsin (4-0-0, 2-0-0 WCHA) in its first Western Collegiate Hockey Association series of the season. Both games will be played at OSU Ice Rink with a 7:07 p.m. start Friday and 4:07 p.m. start Saturday.
The Buckeyes are coming off a season-opening sweep of Northeastern in a home nonconference series Oct. 6-7. The Badgers have won their first two series of the season, sweeping Quinnipiac and St. Cloud State in Madison.
OSU OPENS SEASON WITH RECORD-SETTING SWEEP OF NORTHEASTERN
Ohio State opened its 2006-07 season with sweep of Northeastern in a nonconference series at OSU Ice Rink Oct. 6-7. The Buckeyes won 9-3 Friday, setting a program record for most goals in a game. OSU followed that up with a 7-1 victory Saturday to complete the sweep. The 16 goals were the most Ohio State has ever scored in a two-game series. The Buckeyes extended their unbeaten streak against the Huskies to eight games with the two wins. In 12 games all-time against Northeastern, Ohio State is 7-3-2.
WISCONSIN SERIES HISTORY
The series marks the 32nd and 33rd games between Ohio State and Wisconsin since 1999. UW leads the all-time series 23-3-5 and has won the last six games, including a sweep of both series in 2005-06 en route to the NCAA championship. The last time Ohio State defeated the Badgers was Oct. 23, 2004 in Columbus.
SCOUTING THE BADGERS
Top-ranked Wisconsin won the 2006 NCAA Championship as well as the WCHA playoff and regular-season titles. This season, the Badgers have won their first two series in Madison. They swept Quinnipiac, Sept. 29-30 (3-0, 5-1) and topped St. Cloud State, Oct. 6-7 (8-2, 2-1 OT).
The Badgers are led by Jinelle Zaugg in points (10) and goals (6). Sara Bauer, the 2006 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner, and Meaghan Mikkelson are tied for the team-lead for assists with five apiece.
UW is alternating goaltenders this season, rotating starts between Christine Dufour and Jessie Vetter. Both are 2-0-0. Dufour has a 0.99 GAA and .946 save percentage while Vetter has a 1.00 GAA and .938 save percentage.
ALL IN
In a balanced offensive attack vs. Northeastern, 12 different players scored for OSU, led by blueliners Tessa Bonhomme (7 pts.), Lisa Chesson (6 pts.) and Amber Bowman (5 pts.). Five of the 12 Buckeyes with a point were defensemen.
SIMPLY THE BEST
Three Buckeyes recorded career-highs for points in a game last weekend against NU. Juniors Erin Keys (1g, 3a) and Tessa Bonhomme (2g, 2a) set career-highs Friday and classmate Lisa Chesson (2g, 2a) had a career-high Saturday.
WELCOME BACK
After redshirting the 2005-06 season, Tessa Bonhomme returned to the college game with an outstanding two-game performance, totaling seven points on two goals and five assists. In her first game with Ohio State since March 6, 2005, Bonhomme recorded a career-high four points and followed with three assists Saturday. For her great play, Bonhomme was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week.
DYNAMIC DUO
Junior Tessa Bonhomme and senior Amber Bowman were a productive defensive partnership, totaling four goals and nine assists in the two games vs. the Huskies. Both vital members of Ohio State’s power play, the two scored eight of their 13 points with the man-advantage.
SPECTACULAR SPECIAL TEAMS
Ohio State’s penalty kill was a perfect 16-for-16 against Northeastern, including a 9-for-9 mark in the season-opening game. The Buckeyes scored two shorthanded goals Friday as well. The OSU power play was 7-for-12 in the series, with a perfect 4-for-4 mark in the first game. Both of Lisa Chesson’s goals Saturday were scored on the power play.
GOOD IN GOAL
Goaltenders Erika Vanderveer and Liana Bonanno picked up their first wins of the season against the Huskies. Vanderveer started the Friday game and made 13 saves in 49:42. Bonanno stopped 15 of 16 shots faced Saturday in 48:09. Junior Jill Mauch saw her first collegiate action, finishing out both games. She had 10 saves with just one goal allowed in a total time of 21:51.
FRESHMEN FIRSTS
Two Buckeyes record their first collegiate points vs. NU. Freshman forward Raelyn LaRocque scored her first career goal, a shorthanded one, Friday and added two assists Saturday. Rookie defenseman Rachel Davis had an assist Saturday.
DOUBLE UP
Sophomore Morgan Marziali has already doubled her career goal total with three goals against Northeastern. In 32 games last season she had three goals and nine points. After one series this year, Marziali already has three goals and four points.
AWARD WINNERS
Ohio State set a program record last season with three All-WCHA honorees and returns two of those student-athletes for 2006-07. Senior defenseman Amber Bowman was a first team selection and junior blueliner Lisa Chesson named to the third team. It was the first conference honor for both.
Departed forward Jana Harrigan, who concluded her eligibility in 2005-06, was a first team All-WCHA selection as well as an AHCA Second Team All-American and Second Team All-USCHO honoree.
BONHOMME RETURNS TO BUCKEYES
After redshirting the 2005-06 season, defenseman Tessa Bonhomme returns to Ohio State for her junior year. Bonhomme spent five months participating with the Canadian Centralization Program, competing for a roster spot on the 2006 Winter Olympic team. Although she missed the final cut, Bonhomme competed with the Canadian Under-22 Team in January. She was named captain of the team and helped lead it to a 3-1 record. She was named to the U-22 team for the third time in her career in August.
BEST OF THE BLUELINERS
Senior Amber Bowman and junior Tessa Bonhomme are climbing the Ohio State records for career points by a defenseman. Bowman ranks third all-time, followed by Bonhomme at fourth. Laaksonen (2001-04) hold the record with 99 points.
With five points against Northeastern, Bowman increased her career total to 69 (23g, 46a). Bonhomme’s seven-point performance vs. the Huskies moved her career total to 54 (14g, 40a).
UP NEXT
The Buckeyes travel to St. Cloud State Oct. 20-21 for a series at the National Hockey Center. Games begin at 7:07 p.m. (CT) Friday and 2:07 p.m. (CT) Saturday. Ohio State then returns to Columbus for another set of back-to-back home series against Minnesota (Oct. 27-28) and Connecticut (Nov. 3-4).
