Minnesota Duluth sophomore Anna Klein (19) takes a shot in the second series game of No. 7 Ohio State Women’s hockey game vs. No. 7 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Credit: Shanti Lerner | Lantern Reporter

The Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team (10-10-2, 7-7-2 WCHA) avenged two early season losses to No. 5 Ohio State (15-9, 9-7 WCHA) with a series sweep at home, defeating the Buckeyes 5-2 on Friday and 6-3 on Saturday at Amsoil Arena.

Game 1

Goals came early and often for Minnesota Duluth, who upset No. 5 Ohio State women’s hockey 5-2 on Friday night.

Four first period goals for Minnesota Duluth proved to be an insurmountable deficit for the Buckeyes, whose 41-33 shot advantage was not enough to defeat the Bulldogs.

Minnesota Duluth struck first with a goal from sophomore forward Naomi Rogge at the last second of a power play six minutes into the first period.

Ohio State wasted no time with an equalizer goal just a minute later, which came courtesy of freshman forward Gabby Rosenthal, her first career goal as a Buckeye.

Junior forward Sydney Brodt broke the tie for the Bulldogs, coming up with a goal out of a scrum that gave Minnesota Duluth a 2-1 lead over the Buckeyes nine minutes into the first period.

After a goal from sophomore forward Anna Klein, Rogge took advantage of a five-on-three penalty play opportunity that provided her second goal of the night and extended Minnesota Duluth’s lead to 4-1 in the last 20 seconds of the opening period.

Following a first period that saw Ohio State freshman goalie Andrea Braendli allow four Bulldog goals, head coach Nadine Muzerall made a switch at goaltender, allowing sophomore Lynsey Wallace to make 13 saves in the second period.

Despite stout play from Ohio State’s backup goalie, the Buckeyes offense sputtered in the second period, challenging Minnesota Duluth’s Olympic gold medalist goalie, redshirt junior Maddie Rooney, with just seven shots on net.

The lead was cut to two in the sixth minute of the third period, as Ohio State senior forward Madison Field put away her 10th goal of the season low and in the corner.

The Buckeyes mounted an all-out offensive front in the last three minutes with an empty goal, but Minnesota Duluth freshman forward Gabbie Hughes scored her 12th goal of the season on an assist from Rogge that sealed the deal for the Bulldogs with a 5-2 lead with just over two minutes left.

Game 2

Minnesota Duluth continued its dominant play in the second game of a home series, knocking off No. 5 Ohio State 6-3 on Saturday night.

Rogge, who had two goals and two assists against the Buckeyes on Friday, picked up where she left off  for Minnesota Duluth with a rebound power play goal nine minutes into the first period.

Brodt followed up with her second goal of the series just one minute later, pushing the lead to 2-0, on assists from Rogge and sophomore forward Ashton Bell.

Late in the first period, Ohio State freshman defenseman and last week’s WCHA Defenseman of the Week Sophie Jaques cut the Bulldog lead in half with her third goal of the season on a power play.

The second period saw both teams score an even strength goal, as Klein and Ohio State freshman forward Paetyn Levis both got on the scoreboard.

Ohio State sophomore goalie Lynsey Wallace got the nod for her first career start after freshman goalie Andrea Braendli allowed nine combined goals in her previous two starts.

Wallace made just seven saves in the second period, while the pressing Ohio State offense put 21 shots on Minnesota Duluth redshirt junior goalie Maddie Rooney in the period.

Despite a third period goal from Ohio State sophomore forward Tatum Skaggs, who had a hat-trick in their last matchup with the Bulldogs in Columbus, the Buckeyes’ comeback attempt fell flat, as late goals from Rogge and Brodt extended the Minnesota Duluth lead to 6-3 in the closing seconds.

Rogge and Brodt contributed a combined eight points on the night, as they both notched two goals and two assists to ensure the series sweep against the Buckeyes.

Ohio State will return home to Columbus in hopes to end their three-game losing streak with a series against No. 2 Minnesota starting at 6:07 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25.