Ohio State recorded its first shutout victory of the regular season Friday afternoon, defeating MSU, Mankato, 6-0, at the Midwest Wireless Civic Center.
Following the conference victory, the Buckeyes improved to 4-5-1 overall and 3-3-1 in the WCHA, and the Mavericks slipped to 1-10-0 overall and 0-9-0 in the WCHA. Jeanne Chapple was named the first star of the game for her one-goal, two-assist performance.
Sarah Van Riper scored a goal and added an assist. Van Riper was one of three Buckeyes — Heather Farrell and Christine Patno were the other two — to record their first points of the season Friday.
Chapple jumpstarted the Buckeye scoring drive at 8:43 in the first period, putting her third goal of the season past Maverick goalie Katie Beauduy. Assists went to Farrell and Van Riper. Melissa Pirie then set up Corinne Rosen’s goal two minutes later, at 10:56.
Van Riper extended OSU’s lead to three at 17:38 from Lindsey Steblen, and at 18:13, Katie Frohreich collected a pass from Patno to send the Buckeyes into the first intermission with a 4-0 lead.
Just 3:33 into the second stanza, freshman Kelli Halcisak scored her third of the season from Chapple. Chapple would also assist in right wing Shana Frost’s fifth goal of the season at 19:29 to put OSU ahead, 6-0.
The Buckeyes held the Mavericks to single-digit shots in every period, outshooting MSU, Mankato 34-21 for the game.
OSU was unable to convert two power-play opportunities and held Mankato scoreless through four Buckeye penalties.
April Stojak recorded 21 saves for the win. MSU’s Beauduy stopped 28 Buckeye shots.
The two-game series concludes Saturday at 3:35 p.m. EST at the Midwest Wireless Civic Center.
