Columbus, Ohio --- The Minnesota State women's hockey team could not keep pace with #5 Ohio State, dropping game two by a score of 8-4 Saturday in the OSU Ice Arena.
 
The Mavericks scored the opening goal at the 6:58 mark in the first period as senior forward Sofia Poinar finished a 2-on-1 break with freshman linemate Kennedy Bobyck. Bobyck took a shot that was saved and popped in the air by sophomore netminder Andrea Braendli before Poinar tipped the puck out of the air over Braendli for her second goal of the season. The Buckeyes tied the game up while Minnesota State was on a power play with junior forward Emma Maltais scoring on the partial breakaway for the short hander. The game remained tied 1-1 at the first intermission.    
 
A total of five goals were scored in the second period as the Mavericks came back from two goals down twice to make it a one goal game at the second intermission. OSU went up 2-1 on a power play opportunity 9:54 into the period as sophomore defenseman Sophie Jaques hit the puck off the right pipe and into the net. The first two-goal deficit came at the 14:06 mark as junior forward Tatum Skaggs put away a rebound past freshman netminder Calla Frank. The Mavericks converted on a power play as well at the 16:25 mark with junior blueliner Jessica Kondas wiring a shot past Braendli from the middle of the ice. All three of Kondas' goals on the season have been scored in three out of the last four games. Less than a minute later the Buckeye lead was back to two as freshman winger Jennifer Gardiner scored on the play. Minnesota State responded at the 18:24 mark as junior forward Mariah Gardner put away a loose puck in front of the OSU goal for her sixth goal of the season.  

Ohio State put the game out of reach in the third period by scoring three goals within the first six minutes. Sophomore forward Gabby Rosenthal scored at the 1:25 mark to take back the two-goal lead. Gardiner then scored her second goal of the game at the 4:28 mark that forced Frank to the bench and brought in sophomore netminder Abigail Levy. The Buckeyes scored their second power play goal of the game as senior defenseman Jincy Dunne scored from near the blue line. The Mavericks were able to score one goal in the third period at the 6:28 mark as freshman winger Danielle England scored her first collegiate goal. England put back a rebound attempt off Bobyck's original shot past freshman netminder Quinn Kintz. OSU scored the final goal of the game at the 17:25 mark when junior winger Liz Schepers went five-hole on Levy.
 
Freshman Calla Frank (4-4-2) played the first 44 minutes and collected 19 saves in the loss. Sophomore Abigail Levy came in for the final 16 minutes and made five saves.

The Mavericks were outshot by the Buckeyes by a 32-21 margin. Minnesota State went one-for-four on the power play and Ohio State was two-for-five with the man advantage.
 
Now standing with a 7-12-4 (2-10-2-2 WCHA) record, the Mavericks will return home for the first time since Nov. 22-23 to face St. Cloud State. Games will be played on Jan. 17-18 with puck dropping at 7:07 p.m., and 3:07 p.m., respectively.