Ohio State
Minnesota State
Buckeyes Wrangle Mavericks, 3-1 – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Nov. 7, 2014
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s hockey team (6-3-0, 4-3-0 WCHA) posted two first period goals en route to a 3-1 victory Friday evening over Minnesota State (0-8-1, 0-6-1 WCHA) in Mankato, Minn. The teams return to All Seasons Arena for game two tomorrow at 1:07 p.m. CT.
The Buckeyes posted their first goal of the evening 3:16 into the opening period. Sophomore defenseman Breanne Grant contributed her first score of the season on the play, which was assisted by Buckeyes Taylor Kuehl and Claudia Kepler. Ohio State once again lit the lamp when sophomore Haley Studler struck one in off a feed from Grant and Maggie Rothgery. Freshman goalie Kassidy Sauve and the Buckeye defense held the Mavericks scoreless in the first with Sauve earning four saves.
In the second, Ohio State’s lead of 2-0 held as both teams concluded the period without a goal. The Buckeye penalty kill unit withstood two Minnesota State power play opportunities in the stanza, while offensively Ohio State maintained a slight 12-11 advantage in shots.
Junior standout Julia McKinnon started the third period off on a strong note, scoring her fifth goal of the season at the 3:13 mark. Assisted by Sara Schmitt and Kepler, the goal put the Buckeyes up 3-0. However, Minnesota State refused to go down without a fight, defending against the shutout with a power-play goal just minutes after McKinnon netted her own.
Sauve contributed 16 saves in her ninth-consecutive start for the Scarlet and Gray. Minnesota State goalie Erin Krichiver posted 36 stops against the Buckeyes.
On special teams, Ohio State went 2-for-3 in penalty kills and 0-for-3 on power plays. The Buckeyes had a commanding 39-17 advantage in shots, while also manning the Mavericks in faceoffs, 30-24.
