COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Buckeye Women suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss, being swept at the hands of the Minnesota Golden Gophers at The Ohio State Ice Rink during a Saturday matinee. The back and forth battle of offense versus defense continued from last night. Once again the Minnesota Golden Gophers rose victorious as the Buckeyes gave up a one goal lead.
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes goalie Kassidy Sauve (32) makes the save against Minnesota on Saturday. Suave saved a career high of 55 shots. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
The big story of the game was Buckeye goalie Kassidy Suave. Suave made 55 saves setting a new career high while remaining in the top half in save percentage and goals against average.
When asked about what the key to tonight’s game was head coach Nadine Muzzerall said “Our goaltending, clearly,” Mentioning Suave. “She faced 56 shots, only lets two in and both of those she couldn’t see.”
Muzerall continued to say about her goaltender. “I’ll say it right now, she’s an All-American goalie, she’s fantastic. She’s averaging about 50 shots against per game and she’s taking those shots from future Olympians and All-Americans. We’ve played the number one, two, and eight-ranked teams, so she’s seen the best of the best.”
The scoreless first period ended with the Buckeyes having a miniscule 3 shots on goal where the Gophers had a godlike booming 26 shots on the Buckeye net. Ohio State netminder, Kassidy Suave, put on a clinic on how to play goal shutting out the Gophers. Save after save Suave looked like an impenetrable wall.
Buckeye defenseman Dani Sadek scored in the second period with a canon of a shot from the point making it 1-0 Ohio State. The Ohio State forwards started showing some
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes goalie Kassidy Sauve (32) makes the save against Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Tianna Gunderson (4) in the third period. Suave made a career high 55 saves in one game. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
life taking ten shots on net. The tough defense and Suave’s jaw dropping goaltending held the score with 21 shots against them. Shot number 22 finally went into the net when Gopher center Taylor Williamson lit the lamp at 17:06 tying the game at 1-1.
The Third period was another neck and neck race until Gopher star left wing Sarah Potomak scored her fourth goal of the weekend at 6:42 assisted by Kelly Pannek and Patti Marshall. The Buckeyes ferociously attacked the Gopher net in the closing minutes of the third period, but it was too much too late. The lack of puck control and shots on net did the Buckeye Women in.
“It was just a grind and a battle here tonight,” said Gopher head coach Brad Frost. “To outshoot a team 57-19, obviously we had our chances but Sauve was tremendous. They cleared the rebounds away from her and she did a really good job.”
This marked Frosts 300th win as head coach of the Golden Gophers. As head coach of the program for ten years his coaching record stands at a remarkable 300-42-22. Frost is the 11th coach
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes forward Maddy Field (22) fights for the puck against Minnesota Golden Gophers defenseman Sophie Skarzynski (5) in the second period. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes goalie Kassidy Sauve (32) makes the save against Minnesota on Saturday. Suave saved a career high of 55 shots. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Sarah Potomak (26) carries the puck in the game against Ohio State Saturday. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes goalie Kassidy Sauve (32) observes the play in the game against Minnesota Saturday. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes goalie Kassidy Sauve (32) makes the save against Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Kelly Pannek (19) in their game on Saturday. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes defenseman Jincy Dunne (33) and Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Sarah Potomak (26) chase after the puck in the first period. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Minnesota Golden Gophers defenseman Katie Robinson (18) takes the shot against Ohio State. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes goalie Kassidy Sauve (32) makes the save during warmups before the game against Minnesota. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
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