Ohio State
5-6-0, 3-6-0-0
North Dakota
6-3-2, 4-3-2-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| North Dakota | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Buckeyes Knock Off No. 6 North Dakota, 3-2 – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Nov. 14, 2015
Columbus, Ohio— Ohio State (5-6-0, 3-6-0 WCHA) kicked off its weekend series with a bang, defeating No. 6 North Dakota (6-3-2, 4-3-2-1 WCHA) 3-2 on Saturday.
This marks the fourth series this season that the Buckeyes have skated against a highly ranked opponent: No. 2 Wisconsin, No. 1 Minnesota, and last weekend against No. 5 Bemidji State.
Despite the eventual outcome, the first period was all North Dakota. Ohio State was outshot 20-4 by its WCHA foe, and also surrendered the only goal of the period. UND’s Jordan Hampton scored her first of the season at the 12:04 mark of the period, giving her team a 1-0 lead. Alex LaMere stood tall between the pipes though, saving the other 19 shots that came her way and keeping the Buckeyes within a goal heading into the second period.
The sophomore’s stellar goaltending paid off when Claudia Kepler tied the game up 11:56 into the second period. Alexa Ranahan and Kendall Curtis assisted on Kepler’s goal, her fifth of the season. Whereas the first period was all North Dakota, Ohio State came back and took control in the second frame; it outshot UND 12-9 and thwarted the only North Dakota power play opportunity of the game, giving up just one shot.
In the third and final period, North Dakota would get its lead back after Amy Menke’s fourth goal of the season at the 11:43 mark of the period. Curtis, Ohio State’s leading goal scorer, answered right back with a score of her own 13:08 into the period, tying the game for the Buckeyes. Julianna Iafallo registered an assist on the play, and Kepler returned the favor after Curtis assisted on her goal earlier in the game. The Scarlet and Gray kept rolling, scoring the eventual game-winner just 55 seconds later. Maddy Field found the back of the net for the fourth time this season, receiving assists from Kathie Matheny and fellow freshman Lauren Boyle, her eighth helper of the year.
Ohio State held firm for the remainder of the period to earn its fifth win of the season. After that first period where North Dakota outshot the Buckeyes by a wide margin, the shot differential actually went in favor of head coach Jenny Potter’s squad 24-20.
“It was a big win and a big step for us tonight,” Potter said after the win. “I think our players competed hard and grew as individuals and a team. I’m very proud of their effort.”
LaMere, who notched 38 saves in the big win, felt similarly:
“It felt so good to get such a big win under our belts. I’m so proud of the way our team battled back.”
“I just think we played really relentless tonight,” said Cara Zubko on her team’s performance. “We didn’t let them take over and after every mistake we were right back on them. It led to a great team win.”
The Buckeyes will look to build off that great team win tomorrow in game two against North Dakota. Puck drop is slated for 2:07 ET.
