The No. 6 University of Minnesota women's hockey team lost, 2-1, to Ohio State University, tonight in Columbus, Ohio. Minnesota drops to 4-3-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Ohio State earned its third win of the season, improving to 3-5-0 overall and 1-5-0 in the WCHA.
Erin Keys scored at 4:42 of the first period to give the Buckeyes an early 1-0 lead in the first period. Minnesota outshot OSU, 13-6, but Buckeye goalie Erika Vanderveer stopped all 13 shots. OSU also had three power-play opportunities, but did could not convert.
Both teams went scoreless in the second period, as OSU held a 1-0 lead. Minnesota had 10 shots, while OSU had four. The Maroon and Gold tied the game as Gigi Marvin scored a goal at 17:04 of the third period. Marvin tipped an Anya Miller slap shot for her fifth goal of the season. Brittany Francis started the play as she passed it out front through the slot to Miller. However, the Buckeyes scored with 1:08 remaining in the third period to seal the win. Keys scored her second goal of the game at 18:52 of the third period. The Gophers tried to come back in the end as they pulled Gopher goalie Brittony Chartier, but were not able to convert.
Chartier had 15 saves in the loss and drops to 4-3-1 on the season. Ohio State, who came into the weekend as the No. 1 power-play unit in the nation, did not score a power-play goal in the series. The Gophers held OSU to a 0-for-5 mark today and 0-for-8 on Friday.
Minnesota will return home after two straight weeks on the road as the Gophers face WCHA rival, No. 5 Minnesota Duluth, Nov. 3-4. Both games are scheduled for a 7:07 p.m. start at Ridder Arena. Both games will be broadcast on www.gophersports.com.
