Ohio State Tops Minnesota State In WCHA Final Five Opener
March 12, 2004
No. 4 Ohio State topped No. 5 Minnesota State, 3-1, in the opening game of the 2004 WCHA Final Five. With the win, Ohio State advances to Saturday's semifinals where they will play No. 1 Minnesota. Game time is 4:05 p.m. at Ridder Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
The Buckeyes got on the board first as Meaghan Mulvaney scored off assists from Jana Harrigan and Lacey Schultz at the 9:00 mark. Minnesota State answered with a power play goal from Melanie Salatino at 12:17 of the first period. Devon Nichols and Kate Hainrich added the assists. Ohio State's Jeni Creary gave the Buckeyes a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission with the eventual game-winning goal at 16:31 on an assist from Krysta Skarda.
After a scoreless second period and most of the third, Harrigan capped the Buckeye's scoring with an empty net goal at 19:59 of the third period.
Ohio State goaltender Melissa Glaser finished the day with 19 saves while Minnesota State's Shari Vogt had 29. Minnesota State's lone goal was on the power play while Ohio State was scoreless in four power play chances.
Minnesota State finishes the season with a 16-14-4 overall record and went 9-11-4 in the WCHA. Ohio State heads into the semifinals with a 16-14-3 overall record. The Buckeyes posted a 10-12-2 mark in league play.
No. 3 Minnesota Duluth (19-11-2/15-8-1) will face No. 2 Wisconsin (24-5-3/18-5-1) in tomorrow's other semifinal at 1:05 p.m.
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