Box Score Columbus, Ohio --- A three-goal second period from host Ohio State ultimately doomed the Minnesota State women’s hockey team as it fell, 4-1, in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action Friday night at the OSU Ice Rink.
 
Both teams battled to a scoreless first period as MSU’s Danielle Butters stopped all eight Buckeye shots in the frame - including three on a five-minute OSU power-play - after junior Danielle Scholzen was given a major penalty for checking from behind at 4:48.
 
Taylor Kuehl got Ohio State on the board in the second period with a power-play goal by deflecting Kari Schmitt’s shot from the point past Butters at the 6:10 mark. The Mavericks responded at 7:47 when senior Lauren Smith netted her 23rd goal of the season off assists from sophomore Kathleen Rogan and junior Tracy McCann. However just 71 seconds later, the Buckeyes’ Ally Tarr put OSU back on top with her 10th marker of the year and Hokey Langan made it a 3-1 lead with a goal off a penalty shot at 19:45.
 
Minnesota State was unable to mount a comeback in the third period as OSU’s Minttu Tuominen scored an even-strength marker 6:38 into the frame to boost the Buckeye margin to 4-1 and close out the contest’s scoring.
 
Butters finished with a game-high 36 saves for the Mavericks who were unable to score on their lone power-play opportunity. Chelsea Knapp recorded 22 stops in the win for OSU who ended one-of-four on the man advantage. The Buckeyes outshot the Mavericks 36-23 on the evening.
 
Now 10-19-4 overall and 6-17-4 in WCHA play, Minnesota State will wrap-up the regular season tomorrow with a 1:07 p.m. EST faceoff against the Buckeyes inside the OSU Ice Rink.