Ohio State Shuts out Dogs

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

Power plays were once again the deciding factor Saturday in the No. 6/7 University of Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team’s 2-0 setback to No. 2 Ohio State University at AMSOIL Arena. With the win, the Buckeyes sweep the opening Western Collegiate Hockey Association series for both sides.

Just as the day before, the Buckeyes were able to use two power plays to get ahead of the Bulldogs. A five-minute contact to the head penalty called on UMD at 17:57 of the first period finally resulted in an OSU breakthrough on Bulldog rookie netminder Ève Gascon by Buckeye Hannah Bilka at 1:10 of the second period. Just 1:41 later, OSU netted its fourth power play of the series and second of the game to take a 2-0 lead in the game.

A late push by the Bulldogs in the third period tested the Buckeyes, but goaltender Raygan Kirk stopped all 16 shots on goals she faced. Gascon made 40 saves in her third UMD start.

The Bulldogs (2-2-0, 0-2-0) will look to get back on a winning track next weekend when they travel to Mankato, Minn. to face Minnesota State University, Mankato in a Friday-Saturday WCHA series. Friday’s game will get underway at 3:00 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES: UMD raised a banner to the rafters of AMSOIL Arena 15 minutes before puck-drop Saturday to honor 2023 Humanitarian Award winner Gabbie Hughes. Hughes is the first Hockey Humanitarian recipient on either the men’s or women’s hockey program.