Senior defenseman Sara Schmitt controls the puck during an exhibition game against Western Ontario Sept. 28 at the OSU Ice Rink. OSU tied Western Ontario 2-2 in overtime.
Credit: Melissa Prax / Lantern photographer
After falling in the first matchup of a two-game set, the Ohio State women’s hockey team dispatched St. Cloud State University in shutout fashion Saturday afternoon.
Ohio State improved their record to 5-3-0 (3-3-0) after having a week off between games. St. Cloud State is now 3-3-1 (2-1-1) this season.
On Saturday, both teams took the ice for the first period with strong defensive plays. OSU freshman goalie Kassidy Sauve saved all four shot attempts by the Huskies and SCSU junior goalie Katie Fitzgerald was credited with 10 saves in the opening period.
Freshman forward Lauren Spring scored her first collegiate goal to put the Buckeyes in the lead to open the scoring in the second period.
Spring was posted in front of the net and scored her goal on a rebound off of senior defenseman Kari Schmitt’s slap shot.
Although SCSU outshot Ohio State in the second period, the Buckeyes ended the period with a 1-0 lead.
Senior defenseman Sara Schmitt did her part to seal the win in the third period, adding two goals to the board for OSU. The Buckeye captain netted her first goal off a pass from twin sister Kari Schmitt. Her second goal was scored on an empty net. The Buckeyes outshot the Huskies, 28-18, overall.
The first game of the series didn’t end as favorably for the Buckeyes.
OSU fell to SCSU, 4-2, Friday before picking up the shutout to end the series. Coach Nate Handrahan said he wasn’t happy with the outcome.
“We mentality didn’t execute, we made some mistakes and they capitalized on us,” he said.
The Buckeyes started off strong by scoring two goals back-to-back from junior forwards Julia McKinnon and Melani Moylan.
The Huskies scored three times in the second to take a 3-2 lead into the final period. The SCSU finished the game with an empty net goal, bringing the final score to 4-2.
Offensively the Buckeyes had the advantage as they outshot the Huskies, 45-19.
“Although it feels like, ‘hey, we carried some play and carried some momentum,’ we still didn’t execute on the offensive side either,” Handrahan said.
OSU is scheduled to hit the road for a two-game series with Minnesota State in Mankato, Minn. Games are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 7:07 p.m. and 2:07 p.m., respectively.
