The Ohio State women’s hockey team ended the regular season with a pair of losses against Minnesota State Feb. 20-21 at the OSU Ice Rink.
The Buckeyes fell to 8-23-3 overall and 6-20-2-2 in conference play. It was the ninth time OSU has been swept this season.
OSU spent most of the first game fighting from behind. After a scoreless first period, freshman Kelly Wild gave the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead with her first career goal. Freshman Kim Theut and senior co-captain Morgan Marziali assisted on the goal.
But the Mavericks scored three goals by the end of the second period to take a 3-1 lead. Two of the goals were on the power play.
The Buckeyes fought back by scoring two goals within the first four minutes of the third period. Both goals were scored by McIntosh and assisted by senior co-captain Hayley Klassen.
Kala Buganski responded with a goal to briefly put the Mavericks in front, but McIntosh scored her third goal of the game 21 seconds later, giving her a hat trick and evening the score 4-4. The Mavericks regained the lead with a goal by Nina Tikkinen, but freshman Natalie Spooner tied the game again with her 21st goal of the season.
Senior Maggie Fisher put the Mavericks in front for good just 16 seconds later. It was her 12th goal of the season and 16th point against the Buckeyes, which is the most among active players on the MSU roster.
The second game had fewer goals, but came to the same conclusion for OSU. Trailing 1-0 in the third period, the Buckeyes tied the game when sophomore Shannon Reilly scored her fifth goal of the season. But the Mavericks regained the lead nine seconds later when Lisa Edman scored her second goal of the series, handing OSU a 2-1 defeat.
The Mavericks outshot the Buckeyes 60-59 for the series. OSU was 1-for-8 on the power play.
The Buckeyes start postseason play Feb. 27. Their opponent is yet to be determined.
Christopher Grzan can be reached at [email protected].
