COLUMBUS, Ohio – The seventh ranked Ohio State Buckeyes suffered a 5-1 loss at the hands of the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Ohio State Ice Rink Friday night. The Nittany Lions dominated the game like a pride of lionesses on the hunt in the Serengeti. The Buckeyes never stood a chance against the Penn State women.
January 5, 2017: Penn State Nittany Lions forward Meike Meilleur (26) celbrates her goal against Ohio State with teammates Penn State Nittany Lions forward Sophie Slattery (17) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Abby Welch (10) in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
Penn State netminder Hannah Ehresman stopped 31 shots against her save one goal scored by forward Julianna Iaffalo at 13:49 in the 3rd period. The Buckeyes lost one on one battles for the puck and were out skated. They could not control the puck if they had a remote control on it. Penn State gave the Buckeyes four power plays, two of which were in the first period and they could not capitalize on their opportunities.
“We started off good, getting opportunities but not converting them,” Ohio State Head Coach Nadine Muzerall said. “But we need to score and we’ve been struggling with that for far too long. We need to play like the sixth best team in the nation. Unfortunately we did not do that tonight.”
Although The Buckeyes out-shot the Nittany Lions 6-5, Penn State forward Meike Meilleur drew first blood with a wrist shot from the slot with assists going to freshman Sophie Slattery and senior Bella Sutton. This was Meilleur’s third goal of the season. The first period ended 1-0 Penn State.
January 5, 2017: Ohio State Buckeyes goaltender Kassidy Sauve (32) watches the puck against Penn State in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
The Buckeyes tried to mount a comeback shooting nine times on goal in the second period. Ehreshman stood fast denying the Buckeye offense. Penn State continued their attack matching the Buckeyes with nine shots on goal. Freshman Katie Rankin lit the lamp for Penn State making it 2-0 at 5:21. Assists went to Morgan Rolf and Christi Vetter.
Showing some life, the Buckeyes mounted a desperate attack shooting 17 times on the Penn State net. The Nittany Lion offense never let up taking 12 shots on the Buckeyes. Rankin scored her second goal of the night at assisted by Sutton and Kelsey Crow at 8:18. This extended Rankin’s point streak to four games along with her first two goal game in her career. Within three minutes left in the third period Aly Hardy scored her first goal of the season at 17:11 on an empty net, and Vetter scored her 6th goal of the season at 18:22.
January 5, 2017: Penn State Nittany Lions forward Meike Meilleur (26) celbrates her goal against Ohio State with teammates Penn State Nittany Lions forward Sophie Slattery (17) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Abby Welch (10) in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: Penn State Nittany Lions forward Meike Meilleur (26) celbrates her goal against Ohio State with teammates Penn State Nittany Lions forward Sophie Slattery (17) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Abby Welch (10) in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: Penn State Nittany Lions forward Aly Hardy (15) listens to the National Anthem before facing Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: Ohio State Buckeyes goaltender Kassidy Sauve (32) listens to the National Anthem before playing Penn State in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: The Ohio State goalie mask on the ice before Ohio State faces Penn State in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017:Ohio State Buckeyes Defenseman Dani Sadek (8) during the game against Penn State in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: Penn State Nittany Lions Hannah Ehresmann Goaltender (1) makes the save against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: Penn State Nittany Lions Katie McMillan Defenseman (16) carries the puck as Ohio State Buckeyes Forward Tatum Skaggs (11) chases her in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: : Penn State Nittany Lions Katie McMillan Defenseman (16) fights for the puck against Ohio State Buckeyes Forward Erin Langermeier (10) in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: Penn State Nittany Lions Katie McMillan Defenseman (16) fights for the puck against Ohio State Buckeyes Forward Erin Langermeier (10) in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: Ohio State Buckeyes Forward Maddy Field (12) carries the puck down the ice against Penn State in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: Ohio State Buckeyes Forward Maddy Field (12) carries the puck down the ice against Penn State in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: Penn State Nittany Lions Kelsey Crow Defenseman (7) fights for the puck against Ohio State Buckeyes Forward Grace Zarzecki (7) in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: Penn State Nittany Lions Natalie Heising Forward (20) in the game against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
January 5, 2017: Penn State Nittany Lions forward Meike Meilleur (26) celbrates her goal against Ohio State with teammates Penn State Nittany Lions forward Sophie Slattery (17) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Abby Welch (10) in Columbus, Ohio. Brent Clark/Pro Hockey News
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