Ohio State
North Dakota
No. 10/9 Ohio State Falls to North Dakota, 1-0 – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Jan. 17, 2015
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 10/9 Ohio State women’s hockey team suffered a 1-0 loss to North Dakota (12-10-2, 8-8-2 WCHA) Saturday evening at the OSU Ice Rink. Moving to 14-10-2 overall as well as 9-9-2-1 in the WHCA, the Buckeyes were unable to come away with coveted conference points in the series after falling by the same margin to UND in game one.
An evenly matched opening to the game, the Buckeyes and UND were scoreless until the final minute of the first period. With coincidental penalties called at the 18-minute mark, the teams were skating four-on-four when North Dakota’s Gracen Hirschy found an opening in the Buckeye defense and scored over the shoulder of goalie Stacy Danczak at 19:28. The goal provided North Dakota a 1-0 lead heading into intermission. The Buckeyes and UND were even on shots, 11-11, while Danczak recorded 10 saves. Ohio State was unable to convert on two power play chances.
Neither team scored in the second period, leaving North Dakota with a 1-0 advantage. Similar to the first period, shots were even at 11-all for stanza. Danczak added 11 stops in goal, bringing her total to 21 saves for the game. Play remained physical between the WCHA foes; however, no penalties were reported.
The Buckeyes were unable to capitalize on some scoring opportunities in the chippy third period, making the final score, 1-0. Danczak had a huge block on a North Dakota breakaway at the 9-minute mark, keeping UND to a single goal. Shots were recorded at 9-4 for the period, Ohio State, and Danczak added nine saves to her game total.
For the game, Ohio State outshot North Dakota, 31-26. The Buckeyes went 0-for-3 on power play chances and did not have a penalty kill due to coincidental penalties.
Danczak moved to 6-3-2 this season, with 25 saves in 58:24 vs. UND. Amsley-Benzie was credited with 31 saves in 60 minutes of play and recorded her second shutout of the series.
Ohio State will have a week off before returning to competition Jan. 30-31 with a trip to Minneapolis, Minn. to take on second-ranked Minnesota.
