Buckeyes Face No. 6/6 Minnesota at OSU Ice Rink – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Oct. 26, 2006
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s hockey team (2-4-0, 0-4-0 WCHA) returns to Columbus to host back-to-back home series, starting with No. 4/6 Minnesota (3-2-1, 2-1-1 WCHA) Oct. 27-28. Games begin at 7:07 p.m. both Friday and Saturday at OSU Ice Rink.
The Buckeyes are looking to snap a four-game losing streak after dropping each of their last four games by one goal. Minnesota is coming off a loss and tie to top-ranked Wisconsin. The tie ended the Badgers’ win streak at 19 games.
Scarlet & Gray vs. Maroon & Gold
Ohio State and Minnesota are not only facing off on the ice this weekend. The women’s soccer team hosts the Gophers Friday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The top-ranked football team takes on Minnesota Saturday at Ohio Stadium with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. The OSU women’s volleyball team will battle the Gophers Friday in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Series History
Last season, Ohio State defeated Minnesota twice in overtime for the first season series split since 2000-01. After dropping the first game in both the 2005-06 series, the Buckeyes topped the Gophers in game two.
Minnesota leads the all-time series 26-5-1 with a slight 3-2-0 edge in the last five meetings. Ohio State has won four regular-season meetings vs. the Gophers, two at OSU and two at Minnesota.
Last Time Out: St. Cloud State
Ohio State dropped a pair of games on the road at St. Cloud State Oct. 20-21. The Buckeyes fell by a score of 5-4 Friday and 3-2 (OT) Saturday. OSU has not won at St. Cloud since a series sweep Nov. 14-15, 2003. On Friday, Ohio State scored two goals late in the game but the rally fell short as the team lost 5-4. Amber Bowman and Lisa Chesson each scored in the closing four minutes of regulation, but SCSU held on to its lead for the win. Trailing 2-1 after two periods Saturday, OSU evened the score in the third period on a goal by Hayley Klassen to send the game into overtime. Denelle Maguet scored 3:29 into overtime to complete the Husky sweep. Junior Shelby Aldous tallied her first two goals of the season in the series, opening the scoring each game.
A Look At the Golden Gophers
Minnesota is ranked No. 6 in the most recent USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Polls released Oct. 24 and 25, respectively. The Gophers, lead by head coach Laura Halldorson in her 10th year, are 3-2-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the WCHA. Both of the losses have come against nationally-ranked New Hampshire and Wisconsin.
Andrea Nichols leads the Gophers in points (9) and goals (5). Just behind her are Erica McKenzie, Whitney Graft and Gigi Marvin, each with eight points. Guarding the UM goal is sophomore Brittony Chartier, who has stopped 117 shots with 17 goals allowed for a .873 save percentage. She has a 2.78 goals-against-average.
Still Going Strong
Although the Ohio State power play stumbled a bit in the St. Cloud State series going 2-for-12, the Buckeyes continue to lead the nation in power play percentage with a 40.0 conversion rate. Overall this year, OSU is 12-for-30. Four players (Lisa Chesson, Mallory Peckels, Tessa Bonhomme and Amber Bowman) have tallied seven points each with the man-advantage.
In 36 games last season, the Buckeyes scored just 20 power play goals, going 20-for-158.
Start of a New Record?
The game Saturday vs. SCSU was Ohio State’s first overtime contest of the season. Last year, the Buckeyes tied their own NCAA record with 10 overtime games. The team was 3-2-5 in the extra sessions.
All In
Through six games, 13 Ohio State players have already recorded a point this season. Eleven have scored a goal and 11 have scored an assist with nine players tallying both.
Offensive Defensemen
Three defensemen lead the Buckeyes in scoring through six games: Amber Bowman has a team-high 11 points, Lisa Chesson has 10 and Tessa Bonhomme is tied for third (with forward Erin Keys) with nine. The three blueliners lead the nation in defenseman points per game.
5-for-6
Senior Amber Bowman was held scoreless for the first time this season Saturday at SCSU, ending her point streak at five games. Bowman is one of three Buckeyes to notch a point in five of six games this season along with juniors Erin Keys and Lisa Chesson. Keys (9 points) and Chesson (10 points) were held without a point Oct. 14 vs. Wisconsin, but tallied one is each of the following games at St. Cloud State.
Good in Goal
In three games this season, senior goaltender Erika Vanderveer has made 84 saves while allowing just eight goals for a .913 save percentage. She recorded her second-consecutive 34-save game Saturday against St. Cloud State. It was the 20th time in her career she has stopped 30 or more shots in a game.
Double Up
Sophomore Morgan Marziali has already doubled her career goal total with three goals in four games this season. 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.
Freshmen Firsts
Two Buckeyes record their first collegiate points in the Northeastern series (Oct. 6-7). Freshman forward Raelyn LaRocque scored her first career goal, a shorthanded one, Oct. 6 and added two assists Saturday. Rookie defenseman Rachel Davis had an assist Oct. 7.
Just Getting Started
Three Buckeyes recorded career-highs for points in a game against Northeastern (Oct. 6-7). Juniors Erin Keys (1g, 3a) and Tessa Bonhomme (2g, 2a) set career-highs in the Friday game and classmate Lisa Chesson (2g, 2a) had a career-high Saturday.
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 three points against St. Cloud State, Bowman increased her career total to 75 (24g, 51a). Bonhomme had an assist vs. the Huskies to move her career total to 56 (15g, 41a).
Up Next
The Buckeyes host their second-consecutive home series, welcoming Connecticut of Hockey East Nov. 3-4. Games begin at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 4:07 p.m. Saturday at OSU Ice Rink.
Ohio State has two giveaways on Saturday – the first 50 fans receive a free OSU winter cap and team trading cards also will be handed out. In the second intermission of that game, one fan will be selected to take a shot from the blueline in an attempt to win $10,000. A team autograph session and skate around will be held after the game Saturday.
