Sophomore Tom Fritsche scored two goals and added two assists, leading Ohio State to a 6-1 victory over Western Ontario in an exhibition game Friday in Value City Arena. Junior Andrew Schembri chipped in three points on a goal and two assists and sophomore Domenic Maiani had two helpers.
The Buckeyes open regular-season play with a two-game series at Colorado College Oct. 14-15. The teams will meet at 9:35 EDT Oct. 14 and at 9:05 EDT Oct. 14 at Colorado Springs World Arena.
“We were fighting it a little at first,” Ohio State head coach John Markell said, “but our speed helped us out. You want the first game to help you get ready, so we’ll take this win and take the positives.”
The Buckeyes got on the board 9:19 into the game when Fritsche, set up by Maiani and Sam Campbell, tallied. Senior Rod Pelley made the score 2-0 Buckeyes when he scored a power-play goal at 17:50, assisted by Sean Collins and goalie Dave Caruso. Ohio State had 14 shots in the period, UWO three.
There was no scoring in the second period. The Buckeyes outshot the Mustangs in the period, 21-1, but UWO goalie Scott Dickie kept Ohio State off the board.
The Buckeyes outscored the Mustangs in the third period, 4-1, for the final score. The Buckeyes scored three goals in under three minutes and four in just over five to push to a 6-0 lead. Schembri scored a power-play goal following a Fritsche faceoff win in the UWO zone at 11:21, followed by freshman Corey Elkins’ even-strength tally at 12:06 after Maiani won a draw in the Mustang zone.
Matt Waddell scored a power-play goal at 14:00, assisted by Schembri and Fritsche. Fritsche closed out the Buckeye scoring with a power-play tally at 16:37, set up by Schembri and Matt McIlvane. The Mustangs got on the board when Craig Kennedy tallied at 17:19, assisted by Chris Rowan and Jamie Chamberlain. OSU put 19 shots on net in the period, UWO five.
In the game, the Buckeyes outshot the Mustangs, 54-9. Caruso started and played the first 29:41 in net for the Buckeyes, making four saves. Sophomore Ian Keserich played the final 27:38, making four saves and allowing a goal. Dickie ended the game with 48 saves in all 60 minutes.
Ohio State was 4-for-11 on the power play and held the Mustangs scoreless on six chances.
