No. 9 Ohio State fell to Minnesota State by a score of 6-2 Saturday at the OSU Ice Rink. The Buckeyes cut the score to 3-2 in the second period, but the Mavericks scored three third-period goals to take the win. The tie and win by MSU marks the first time the team has ever taken more than two points from OSU in a series. Ohio State is now 4-3-1 (2-3-1 WCHA) while Minnesota State improves to 4-2-1 (3-1-1 WCHA).
After falling behind 1-0 on a goal by Alycia Wilson just 4:36 into the game, OSU junior Amber Bowman scored on the power play at 10:55 to tie to game at 1-1. It was the third goal for Bowman this season.
The Mavericks responded just 59 seconds later when top scorer Maggie Fisher scored unassisted to move the score to 2-1 where it would remain heading into the first intermission. Despite being down one goal, the Buckeyes held a 10-8 advantage in shots in the first period.
Felicia Nelson of MSU pushed the Maverick’s lead to two when she scored her third goal of the series 13:25 into the second period. Bowman scored unassisted on a slap shot just over the blue line at 16:22 to cut the lead to 3-2. OSU remained down by one goal at the second intermission with MSU out-shooting the Buckeyes 15-8 in the period.
Minnesota State then put the game away in the third period, scoring three unanswered goals with an 11-8 edge in shots. Brittany Mackley scored her first goal of the season at 6:28 off a rebound by Wilson. Fisher then notched her second goal of the game and seventh of the year at 11:26, followed quickly by Nelson at 11:57 with her fourth goal of the series to move the score to 6-2.
Junior goaltender Erika Vanderveer started the game for Ohio State and had 26 saves with six goals allowed. Freshman Liana Bonanno played the final 8:03 of the game making two saves. Britni Kehler picked up the win for the Mavericks with 24 saves.
Overall, Minnesota State outshot Ohio State 34-26. Both teams scored a power play goal, OSU finishing 1-for-7 while MSU was 1-for-6. Ten Maverick players had at least one point in the game, led by Nelson who had three on two goals and an assist.
