In a highly physical game that saw both teams mixing it up after the final whistle, Ohio State rebounded from a disappointing season opener to win its rematch against St. Cloud State by a 3-1 margin.
The Buckeyes (1-1-0, 1-1-0 WCHA) turned the tables on the visiting Huskies (1-1-0, 1-1-0 WCHA) by scoring the first two goals of the evening. Just like the night before, those two would be enough to secure a victory – only Saturday night the teams switched roles.
“We scored that first goal and got the momentum going,” said OSU head coach Jackie Barto. “It’s huge. You get momentum when you get on the board first and that’s true in every single game.”
The eventual game-winner was scored by freshman center Shelby Aldous at 17:08 of the first period, just 45 seconds after the first Ohio State score. The goal came on a dump-in from the corner that found Aldous’ stick as she cut towards the goal and deflected the puck right through St. Cloud State goalie Lauri St. Jaccques’ five-hole.
The Buckeyes came out looking hungry and feeling like they perhaps had something to prove after dropping game on their home ice, while St. Cloud State appeared tired and out of sync with each other.
“I think we were flat,” said Huskies head coach Jason Lesterberg. “We couldn’t do anything right in the first two periods. We couldn’t move the puck, we couldn’t make a ten-foot pass to ourselves when no one else was around. We just kept coughing up the puck and it cost us those first two goals.”
Both goalies made 22 saves, but OSU sophomore Erika Vanderveer came one shot from starting the season with a shutout. Vanderveer got the start after watching senior Melissa Glaser play in last night’s season opener. For her efforts, Vanderveer was named the star of the game by the media.
“The win’s what counts,” Vanderveer said about losing the shutout. “We gave it our all.”
The lone Huskies goal came with time running out in the third period and the game all but decided. OSU led 3-0 when sophomore left winger Carrie Holldorf blasted a shot from the point that was redirected by junior right winger Kristy Oonincx, beating Vanderveer top shelf. The goal came as St. Cloud State put a flurry of shots on goal and outshot the Buckeyes 15-3 in the third period.
“We couldn’t give up,” said St. Cloud State senior captain Tina Criaulo. “We were down three goals. We were going to keep digging and fighting. You can’t give up.”
The game was marked by constant contact between the two teams. Both teams combined for 18 penalty minutes and numerous stare-downs that had to be cleared up by the officials.
“I think St. Cloud and Ohio State have always had heated battles,” Lesterberg said. “It’s a league game so the energy level is going to be escalated a little bit and I think that contributed to some of the rough play.”
Leading the way was OSU senior captain Meaghan Mulvaney. Despite her diminutive stature, the 5’4 winger-turned-defenseman was constantly seen mixing it up with opponents nearly half a foot taller than her. Six of the Buckeyes’ penalty minutes were served by her.
“She was a bulldog tonight,” Vanderveer said of Mulvaney. “She’s a captain, she’s an awesome leader and she set a great example today of giving 110 percent all the time.”
After salvaging a split to start the season, both teams realize that they must become more consistent if they want to work their way to the top of the standings.
“I think we played four and a half periods out of the six [this weekend] pretty good,” Barto said. “The team came back, made some adjustments and played well the second night.”
