University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
3-0-0, 1-0-0WCHA
Ohio State
0-1-2, 0-1-0WCHA
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Univ. of Minnesota | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| Ohio State | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Gophers Earn 6-5 Win to Open WCHA Season
10/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
After 11 goals scored between the two teams, the No. 2 University of Minnesota women's hockey team earned a 6-5 win over Ohio State, tonight at the OSU Ice Rink in Columbus, Ohio. With the win, the Golden Gophers (3-0-0) earned their first Western Collegiate Hockey Association win of the season in their first conference game played.
The Gophers got on the board first when Terra Rasmussen scored her first goal of the season at 11:06 in the first. Rasmussen fired a wrist shot and the puck slid through Chelsea Knapp's pads for an early 1-0 lead. Michelle Maunu and Chelsey Jones assisted on the play. OSU tied the game at 1-1 when Kelly Wild scored a power-play goal at 17:04 in the first, but Minnesota regained the lead at 18:11 to hold a 2-1 lead after one. Laura May was fore checking in the OSU zone and intercepted a pass. She shot the puck off the right post and off into the net.
Five goals were scored in the second period, including three by the Gophers. Sarah Erickson scored just :15 into the second with the assists coming from Mira Jalosuo and Emily West. OSU followed with a goal at 5:20 in the second by Minttu Tuominen. Becky Kortum scored her first goal as a Golden Gopher when she backhanded the puck and lifted it to the top left corner of the goal at 16:26 in the second. Melissa Feste cut the lead to one when she scored at 16:52 in the second to put the game at 4-3. Emily West scored her third goal of the season at 18:18 in the second. West made a great play as she picked up the loose puck at center ice. She went one-on-one against Knapp. West won the battle for her third goal of the season.
OSU battled back and scored at 2:37 to again, cut the lead to one. Minnesota, however, battled back to put the game to a two-goal deficit with 5:03 remaining in the period. Erickson netted her second goal of the game, tying a career high on an unassisted play. The last time Erickson had two goals in a single game came on Oct. 4, 2008 when she helped the Gophers to a 7-1 win over Robert Morris, her second game as a Golden Gopher. Erickson took advantage of an OSU turnover in the right circle and rifled a shot into the left corner (over Knapp's right shoulder) for the goal. It would eventually prove to be the game-winner as the Buckeyes scored one last time at 19:39. OSU pulled Knapp with 1:45 remaining in the game. With the extra attacker, Hokey Langan scored at 19:39 to put the game at 6-5. However, the Gophers were able to hold on for the win, their third of the year.
Alyssa Grogan earned her second win of the season. She faced the most shots in her career and 39 and had the most saves of her career at 34. Her previous best was 36 shots and 33 saves against Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 10, 2008.
Minnesota had a two-goal lead four times in the game, only to have OSU battle back and cut the lead to one each time. Minnesota was 0-for-3 on the power play, while OSU was 3-for-7. Minnesota had two attempts in the first and not again until the third period. Of the two power-play opportunities the Gophers had in the first, they had nine shots on goal with the extra attacker.
Minnesota and Ohio State will battle again tomorrow night at 7:07 p.m.
