Box Score Columbus, Ohio --- Casey Hirsch’s goal with 2:46 remaining in regulation propelled the Minnesota State women’s hockey team to a 3-3 draw with Ohio State Saturday afternoon at OSU Ice Rink in the final regular-season Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest for both teams.
 
The Buckeyes claimed a 1-0 victory in an extended five-round shootout as the Mavericks dropped to 1-4 in shootouts this season.
 
With the tie, MSU locks up a sixth-place finish in the WCHA which its best under head coach Eric Means.
 
Minnesota State’s top-line connected 10:46 into the first period when senior Lauren Smith beat OSU netminder Chelsea Knapp for her ninth power-play goal of the year off helpers from sophomore Kathleen Rogan and junior Tracy McCann. The Buckeyes’ answered back at the 17:34 mark on a goal by Ally Tarr, who scored - unassisted - to knot the match at 1-1 after 20 minutes of play.
 
The see-saw affair continued in the second period as Tarr made it a two-goal afternoon with a power-play marker at 8:27 to give Ohio State its first lead of the contest, but McCann returned the favor with a power-play goal of her own at 13:39 to keep the game deadlocked heading into the second intermission.
 
OSU reclaimed the lead at 5:16 of the third period on an unassisted goal from Melani Moylan, but sophomore Casey Hirsch responded for the Mavericks with her fifth goal of the year at 17:14 to send the match to overtime.  Junior Kelsie Scott and freshman Giulianna Pallotta each garnered assists on the play.
 
After a scoreless overtime period, Danielle Butters and Knapp traded saves for four rounds before Danielle Gagne notched a fifth-round goal and junior Nicole Germaine was unable to finish for MSU giving the Buckeyes a 1-0 shootout victory.
 
Smith and McCann chipped in a goal and an assist, while Rogan added two helpers of her own in the draw.
 
Butters recorded a game-high 34 saves for MSU who finished two-of-four on the power-play, and Knapp stopped 15 shots for OSU who converted one-of-four power-play opportunities. The Buckeyes outshot the Mavericks 37-18 on the day.
 
Minnesota State moves to 10-19-5 overall and 6-17-5 in the WCHA. With the tie, the Mavericks secure a sixth-place finish in the conference and will travel to either North Dakota or Wisconsin for a WCHA first-round series beginning Friday, March 1st.