Box Score COLUMBUS, Ohio. --- The host Buckeyes scored in each period, including two goals in the second, to topple Minnesota State, 4-2, in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action Saturday afternoon at the OSU Ice Rink.
 
After a defensive struggle for most of the first period last night, both teams entered the scoring column in the first five minutes of the match to take a 1-1 tie into the first intermission. Buckeye freshman Claudia Kepler lit the lamp at 2:54 to put OSU in front early, but the Mavericks retaliated at 4:13 when senior Melissa Klippenstein (Neubergthal, Man.) tapped a loose puck past netminder senior Lisa Steffes for her fifth goal of the year. Fellow senior Kari Lundberg (Woodbury, Minn.) picked up an assist on the play.
 
A pair of defensive-zone turnovers caused by a ferocious Buckeye forecheck resulted in two Ohio State goals in the first five minutes of the second stanza. Sophomore Kendall Curtis beat senior goaltender Danielle Butters (London, Ont.) high on the glove side at 1:40, before senior Ally Tarr and junior Danielle Gagne converted a two-on-one at 4:29. With OSU on a five-minute power play mid-way through the period, Minnesota State sliced the lead in half when senior Nicole Germaine (Mississauga, Ont.) picked off a pass and fed Lundberg who lifted a breakaway, short-handed goal by Steffes on the glove side at 12:50. Butters displayed some fantastic athleticism denying numerous OSU chances resulting in 30 saves through 40 minutes of play.
 
The lone goal of the third period came short-handed and off the stick of OSU's Kepler who flipped a back-handed chance that deflected off the crossbar and across the line at 2:23. Minnesota State outshot the Buckeyes 17-9 in the period, including a myriad of chances with the extra attacker, but the affair ended 4-2 in favor of Ohio State.
 
With the defeat, MSU falls to 9-19-0 on the season and 4-18-0 in conference play, while OSU improves to 9-12-5 and 4-11-5 in league competition.
 
Butters collected a game-high 38 saves compared to 27 for Steffes. Neither team notched a power-play goal with the Mavericks blanking on two opportunities and denying four Buckeye chances with the advantage.
 
Minnesota State will take next week off before entertaining St. Cloud State at All Seasons Arena on February 7-8.