University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHERS BEAT OHIO STATE, THREE POINTS FROM LEAGUE TITLE
2/17/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Nadine Muzerall had a hand in all five goals, scoring on three and assisting on two others. It is Muzerall's fourth hat trick of the season and 15th of her career. Courtney Kennedy added a goal and two assists from the blue line. Erica Killewald stopped 19 of 21 shots to record her 17th win of the season.
With 2:57 remaining in the second period, Muzerall took a pass from Ronda Curtin in the low slot and scored her 21st goal of the season to give Minnesota a 2-1 lead. 23 seconds later, Kennedy blasted home her ninth goal of the season from the left point to increase the Gopher margin to 3-1.
After going 0-for-5 in the power play in the first game of the series, Minnesota opened the scoring at 4:29 of the first period with its 36th power-play goal of the season. Ambria Thomas knocked home a rebound for her team-leading 24th goal of the season and her 10th power-play goal of the campaign. Minnesota outshot Ohio State 19-4 in the first period.
Ohio State equalized the game with a power play goal at 15:17 of the second period. Buckeye captain Corinne Rosen scored her 13th goal of the season on a rebound, evening the score at 1-1.
The Gophers finish their regular season home schedule at Mariucci Arena next weekend with two games against Wisconsin. The games will be played Saturday and Sunday, with both games starting at 2:05 p.m. Minnesota can clinch the WCHA Women's League regular season title with three points in its final four games.
Minnesota........... 1 2 2 - 5 Ohio State.......... 0 1 1 - 2 1st period - 1, UM, Thomas 24 (Muzerall, Kennedy) 4:21 (pp). Penalties - Ogren, UM (hooking) 0:30; Ankersen, OSU (interference), 3:36; Coulombe, UM (slashing), 13:22; Buchholz, UM (roughing) 16:51. 2nd period - 2, OSU, Rosen 13 (Frost, Laaksonen) 15:17 (pp); 3, UM, Muzerall 21 (Curtin) 17:03; 4. UM, Kennedy 9 (Muzerall, Engstrom), 17:26. Penalties - Kennedy, UM (elbowing) 7:42; Muzerall, UM (checking) 14:19. 3rd period - 5, UM, Muzerall 22 (Engstrom) 12:11; 6, UM, Muzerall 23 (Kennedy, Thomas) 13:16 (pp). 7, OSU, O'Grady 9 (Halcisak, Rosen) 17:47. Penalties - O'Grady, OSU (unsportmanlike conduct-2) 9:04; Halcisak, OSU (tripping) 12:35; Buchholz, MN (checking) 18:58. Shots on goal - UM 19-8-11-38; OSU 4-7-10-21. Power plays - UM 2 of 4; OSU 1 of 5. Goalies - UM, Killewald 17-5-1 (21 shots-19 saves); OSU, Stojak 12-15-3 (38-33). A - 237. WCHA WOMEN'S LEAGUE STANDINGS Minnesota 33 16- 3-1 21- 6-1 Minn.-Duluth 31 14- 5-3 22- 5-3 Wisconsin 27 11- 4-5 17- 6-5 St. Cloud State 22 10- 8-2 15-13-2 Ohio State 21 9-10-3 12-15-3 Bemidji State 9 4-15-1 7-20-1 MSU, Mankato 1 0-19-1 2-25-1 Saturday's Results Minnesota 5, Ohio State 2 Wisconsin 5, MSU, Mankato 0 St. Cloud State 6, Minn.-Duluth 5 (OT) Friday's Games Ohio State at St. Cloud State MSU, Mankato at Bemidji State Saturday's Games Wisconsin at Minnesota, 2:05p MSU, Mankato at Bemidji State Ohio State at St. Cloud State
