COLUMBUS The Ohio State Women Buckeyes suffered a tough 3-2 loss to second ranked Minnesota Friday Night at the Ohio State Ice Rink. The back and fourth offensive attack of the Gophers and the defensive play of the Buckeyes made a great arm wrestling match. Although the Buckeyes played a hard defensive game, the Golden Gophers proved too tough.
The Gophers out shot the Buckeyes 11-8 in the first period. Buckeye netminder Kassidy Suave put on an awesome display of goaltending against the Gopher offensive juggernaut. Suave stopped all 11 Gopher shots. The Buckeyes ended the period with a goal by sophomore Jacyn Reeves at 19:35 assisted by freshman Rebecca Freiburger.
The story of the game began in the second period. At 3:48 Minnesota sophomore Sarah Potomak lit the lamp, and tying the game at 1-1. Potomak wasn’t finished. At 11:04 the Gopher left winger would score her second goal of the night assisted by senior Dani Cameranesi and junior Sydney Baldwin.
The third period began and the Buckeyes did not go gentle into that good night. Sophomore Maddy Field tied the game at 2:53 with the assists going to sophomore Lauren Boyle and junior Lauren Spring.
“Maddy Field was our top player today,” said head coach Nadine Muzzerall. “She did all the little things right: body positioning, getting shots through, hustling, not getting bumped off the puck. She just did all the little things and she played hungry”
The hard fought battle of the third period was won when Potomak scored her hat trick at 15:24 assisted by junior Kelly Pannek.
The Gophers turned the Buckeye net into a shooting gallery racking up 27 shots to the Buckeyes 17. This was far from an easy win for the Gophers. Gopher head coach Brad Frost spoke admiration towards the play of the Buckeyes.
“It was a really tough, hard-fought win tonight,” head coach Brad Frost said. “Every time we play Ohio State, it’s a grind, and anytime you’re on the road at Ohio State it’s tough.”
Frost, happy with his players comeback win stated. “I’m very pleased with how our team battled back from being down in the first period and responded really well in the second,” Frost said. “Obviously they tied it up there in the third, and credit them, but it was really great to see us find a way to win that thing with about four minutes left.”
The Buckeyes play the Gophers Saturday at 3:00 PM.
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes defenseman Katie Mikkelsen (right) fights for the puck against Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Kelly Pannek (left). Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Minnesota Golden Gophers defenseman Patti Marshall (27) handles the puck in the game aainst Ohio State Friday night. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Cara Piazza (10) takes a shot on goal as Ohio State Buckeyes defenseman Katie Mikkelsen (20) deflects it away i the first period. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes forward Samantha Bouley (14) handles the puck in the game against Minnesota on Friday night. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes forward Samantha Bouley (14) handles the puck in the game against Minnesota on Friday night. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Ohio State celebrates their 2-2 goal scored by forward Maddy Field (22) in the third period against Minnesota. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes defenseman Jincy Dunne (33) collides with Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Cara Piazza (10) in the third period. Minnesota would go on to win 3-2. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Ohio State Buckeyes goalie Kassidy Sauve (32) makes the save in the game against Minnesota Friday night. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
October 21, 2016: Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Sarah Potomak (right) celebrates her goal with Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Dani Cameranesi (21) in their game against Ohio State on Oct 21. Columbus, OH. (Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News)
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