On a day when Ohio State saluted its past, the program’s future stepped up in a big way and helped the Buckeyes defeat Minnesota State. Freshmen scored the game tying and game winning goals as OSU rallied for a second straight comeback victory.
| Scoring by Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota State | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 5/6 Ohio State | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
There was little chance for either side to establish any flow in the opening period. Both squads participated in a steady parade to the penalty box which limited 5-on-5 action. Minnesota State used the special teams opportunities to its advantage. Jordan Jackson netted a power play goal for the Mavericks at the 5:01 mark.
| Buckeye Goal Scorers (Assists) | Pd | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rebecca Freiburger (Lauren Boyle, Liz Schepers) | 2 | 7:31 |
| Lauren Boyle (Julianna Iafallo, Maddy Field) | 2 | 11:54 |
| Tatum Skaggs (Charly Dahlquist (Lauren Boyle) | 2 | 18:27 |
| PP - Emma Maltais (Julianna Iafallo, Maddy Field) | 3 | 2:29 |
| SH - Lauren Boyle (Julianna Iafallo) | 3 | 16:57 |
Penalties did not plague the teams in the second period. In fact not a single one was called. With fewer interruptions the offenses ramped up. Ohio State and Minnesota State combined for five goals in the middle frame. MSU sailed out to a 2-0 lead early on. Mavs leading scorer Jordan McLaughlin struck just eight seconds into the period.
The goal awakened Ohio State. Soon the Bucks were buzzing. They put nine shots on goal over the next twelve minutes and scored twice. Rebecca Freiburger and Lauren Boyle each tickled the twine.
The Bucks and Mavs battled right up to the intermission. At the 14:56 mark Brittyn Fleming put Minnesota State on top again. Buckeye freshman Tatum Skaggs answered with a game tying tally with a minute and a half to play.
OSU claimed its first lead of the day in the opening minutes of the third period. Freshman phenom Emma Maltais posted a power play goal for a 4-3 Buckeye edge. Then Boyle chipped in her second score of the game. A two goal advantage would be more than sufficient for the Bucks’ defenders who locked the game down and preserved the 5-3 victory.
Amanda Zeglen, making her second consecutive start in net for the Bucks, stopped 18 shots. She earned her second career win. Eight different Buckeyes recorded a point in the contest. Lauren Boyle led the Scarlet and Gray offensively with two goals and two assists.
With this decision Ohio State improves to 9-2-1 overall on the season and 7-2-1-1- in the WCHA. The Buckeyes next travel to face conference foe Bemidji State. Those games are scheduled for next Friday and Saturday.
