Buckeyes Face Minnesota Duluth this Weekend at OSU Ice Rink

Ohio State and the eighth-ranked Bulldogs face off Friday and Saturday in WCHA contest

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s hockey team welcomes No. 8 Minnesota Duluth to the OSU Ice Rink this weekend for a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series. The Buckeyes (7-4-1, 5-4-1-1) and the Bulldogs (5-6-1, 2-5-1) face off Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.

                                                                                                                                                    

SERIES BASICS

Ohio State Buckeyes (7-4-1, 5-4-1-1 WCHA) vs. No. 8 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (5-6-1, 2-5-1 WCHA)
Schedule:
Friday, Nov. 25 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 26 – 4 p.m.

 

Live video: Buckeye Vision (OhioStateBuckeyes.com)

Live Stats: OhioStateBuckeyes.com

Twitter.com/OhioState_WHKY

Facebook.com/OhioStateWomensHockey

 

BLACK FRIDAY

Join the Ohio State women’s hockey team this Black Friday and help the Buckeyes defeat conference rival Minnesota Duluth by rocking the OSU Ice Rink. Wear black to show your support for the Buckeyes and join us for a fun break from the shopping crowds. Go Bucks!
 

WCHA STANDINGS

The Buckeyes, under first-year head coach Nate Handrahan, are fourth in WCHA standings entering the weekend. Ohio State has 17 points with a 5-4-1-1 record in conference play. Nationally-ranked Minnesota is first in the standings with 24 points (8-2-0-0) and Wisconsin stands in second with 21 points (7-1-0).

 

LAST TIME OUT: SYRACUSE

The Buckeyes picked up its third series sweep of the season, earning wins on the road at Syracuse last weekend. Ohio State recorded a three-goal win Friday (6-3) and a 4-3 victory Saturday at Tennity Ice Pavilion. Seniors Laura McIntosh and Natalie Spooner each finished with four points on two goals and two assists, while eight other Buckeyes had points in the series.

                Spooner and freshman Danielle Gagne scored two goals apiece Friday, while sophomore Madison Marcotte and freshman Sara Schmitt both scored the first goals of their careers in the game. McIntosh, sophomore Ally Tarr and freshman Taylor Kuehl tallied two assists each in the win. Saturday had McIntosh score back-to-back goals in the first, while Tarr picked up her fourth gamewinner of the season in the third. Junior Hokey Langan also scored on Saturday, finding the back of the net at 12:24 in the second. Goalies Lisa Steffes and Chelsea Knapp both earned a win on the weekend.

 

KUEHL NAMED WCHA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Freshman forward Taylor Kuehl earned the first weekly conference honor of her career after being named the WCHA Rookie of the Week, Wednesday. Kuehl contributed three assists and finished with a plus-4 rating to aid Ohio State to a two-game road sweep at Syracuse last weekend. The Minnetrista, Minn., product recorded her second multi-point game of the season last Friday in Ohio State’s 6-3 victory. She handed out helpers on both goals by classmate Danielle Gagne, including the game-winner at 7:57 in the third.

                On Saturday, Kuehl assisted on Ally Tarr’s game-winning goal at 10:18 in the third as the Buckeyes won 4-3. Kuehl leads all Ohio State freshmen with nine points, leads the team with nine assists and ranks fourth in scoring overall among WCHA freshmen.

 

MINNESOTA DULUTH

The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 5-6-1 overall record and are 2-5-1 in the WCHA. Minnesota Duluth, ranked No. 8 nationally, split a conference series with Bemidji State at home this past weekend. The Bulldogs defeated the Beavers 4-1 Friday, but fell Saturday, 4-3

                Audrey Cournoyer has a team-best 18 points on nine goals and nine assist this season. The junior forward tallied three goals and two assists in the series against Bemidji State this weekend. Four other Bulldogs have double-digit points this year, including junior Katherine Wilson with 15 (6g, 9a). Junior goalie Jennifer Harss has a 2.79 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage for Minnesota Duluth.

 

BUCKEYES VS. BULLDOGS

Minnesota Duluth holds a 44-5-2 record over Ohio State in the series history. The Buckeyes opened last year’s series with a 4-2 upset over the then-defending NCAA champions in Duluth. Natalie Spooner had two goals in the game, while goalie Lisa Steffes collected 31 saves. Minnesota Duluth, however, took the final three games of the season.

                Senior captain Laura McIntosh leads all current Buckeyes with 15 career points (4g, 11a) against the Bulldogs, while classmate Spooner and junior Hokey Langan each have 12 points vs. UMD. Spooner has nine goals and three assists, while Langan has four goals and eight assists.

 

LAST MEETING

The Buckeyes hosted Minnesota Duluth, Feb. 11-12, at the OSU Ice Rink and fell to the Bulldogs by scores of 5-2 and 5-1, respectively. Senior Natalie Spooner finished with a goal and an assist in the two games, while Laura McIntosh and Ally Tarr had a goal apiece. Goalie Lisa Steffes totaled 64 saves over the weekend.

 

FRESHMEN CONTRIBUTIONS

This year’s newbies are quickly becoming key factors in the team’s success this season. Taylor Kuehl leads the team with nine assists and is tied for fourth in freshman scoring in the WCHA. Danielle Gagne has four goals and two assists on the season, while Kayla Sullivan has two goals and one assist for the Buckeyes. Twin sisters Kari Schmitt and Sara Schmitt have been key roles for the team’s defensive strikes and Sara has also added one goal and two assists to the team’s offensive play.

 

CAREER FIRSTS

A pair of Buckeyes picked up the first goals of their careers in Ohio State’s 6-3 victory at Syracuse, Nov. 18. Sophomore Madison Marcotte scored the team’s first goal of the game at 18:50 in the first, while freshman Sara Schmitt notched Ohio State’s fifth goal at 9:22 in the third.

 

Career Moments

·         Annie Svedin – first-career point/assist: Oct. 7 vs. Bemidji State

·         Madison Marcotte – first-career point/assist: Oct. 7 vs. Bemidji State; first-career goal: Nov. 18 at Syracuse

·         Taylor Kuehl – first-career point/assist: Oct. 7 vs. Bemidji State

·         Ally Tarr  – first-career hat trick: Oct. 8 vs. Bemidji State

·         Kayla Sullivan – first-career point/goal: Oct. 8 vs. Bemidji State; first-career assist: Oct. 21 at North Dakota

·         Danielle Gagne – first-career point/goal: Oct. 8 vs. Bemidji State; first-career goal: Oct. 14 vs. St. Cloud State

·         Sara Schmitt – first-career point/assist: Oct. 22 at North Dakota; first-career goal: Nov. 18 at Syracuse

 

BUCKEYE CORNER

Ohio State returns 17 letterwinners from last season, including its top three scorers who combined for more than half of the team’s goals – Natalie Spooner (26g, 13a), Laura McIntosh (14g, 33a) and Hokey Langan (13g, 18a). McIntosh and Spooner enter their senior seasons as members of the Century Club. McIntosh ranks third at Ohio State with 145 career points (41g, 104a), while Spooner is fifth with 129 career points (78g, 47a). The duo have already made their mark in the program’s history as McIntosh is Ohio State’s leader in career assists and Spooner is second on Ohio State’s career goals list. Langan is on pace to join the Century Club as she currently has 91 career points (41g, 50a).

Heading the blueliner pack are seniors Kelly Wild and Brittany Carlson. Wild played a key role in scoring this season as the Mendota Heights, Minn., product finished fifth on the squad with 19 points on three goals and 16 assists. Carlson, from Hudson, Wis., will continue to hold the back and guide OSU’s defensive corps. Looking to be competitors in the net are goalies Chelsea Knapp and Lisa Steffes as both bring a wealth of experience in their young careers.

 

UP NEXT

Ohio State takes a break from conference competition and hosts Niagara in a two-game series, Dec. 2-3. Puck drops at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 2:07 p.m. Saturday.