The No. 5/6 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will hit the ice with its second ranked opponent in as many games when it travels to Columbus, Ohio Friday to take on Ohio State University. The Bulldogs will start Western Collegiate Hockey Association play Friday at 5:00 p.m. CST at the OSU Ice Rink before closing down the series at 2:00 p.m. CST Saturday.
USCHO RANKING: UMD-- No. 5, Ohio State-- No. 7
USA TODAY/USA HOCKEY MAG: UMD-- No. 6, Ohio State-- 7
THE SERIES: UMD is 65-15-3 all-time against the Buckeyes after going 4-0 over the regular season last season. That regular season sweep over OSU was the first for the program since the 2008-09 season, though the Bulldogs went went 3-0-1 in 2014-15 and 2015-16 and 2-0-2 in 2013-14.
UMD last hit the ice with OSU back on Jan. 27-28. The Bulldogs reeled off four goals over a 1:40 early in the third period en route to a 6-1 trounce over the Buckeyes on Jan. 27. Senior forward Katherine McGovern had two of those third period tallies and added an assist for a game-high three points, while 10 players in all recorded points. In all, Five players notched two or more points — McGovern (2g, 1a), Demi Crossman (1g, 1a), Maria Lindh (1g, 1a), Lara Stalder (2a) and Ashleigh Brykaliuk (2a).
UMD helped sophomore goaltender Maddie Rooney get a shutout in a 3-0 triumph over OSU the following night (Jan. 28). The Bulldogs netted a goal in each period, with junior defenseman Linnea Hedin getting the first period game-winner. Stalder had a game-high two points on a goal and an assist.
Both of UMD's season-high six goal games against the Buckeyes (Oct. 28, 6-0 and Jan. 27 6-1). The Bulldogs outscored OSU 18-3 in their four games last season.
UMD will travel to Columbus with an 11-game unbeaten streak against the Buckeyes in Ohio dating back to the 2011-12 season. In the Bulldogs last 11 games in Columbus, UMD has gone 11-0-1 against OSU, with its last setback back on Nov. 25, 2011, a 4-1 loss.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE BUCKEYES: Ohio State has returned to the national top-10 for the first time since Jan. 12, 2015. The 3-0-1 Buckeyes are No. 7 in both polls, the program's highest ranking since the 2012-13 team held the No. 6 spot on Oct. 15, 2012.
OSU, which is tied for the NCAA's top-scoring offense at 4.00 goals per game, has not been undefeated after four games since that 2012-13 team opened 5-0-0. The Buckeyes opened the season with a home sweep over RPI, then vaulted into the rankings after a five-point WCHA weekend (3-2 win Friday, 5-5 tie and shootout win Saturday) at then-No. 4/5 Minnesota.
The Buckeyes are led by a pair of freshmen -- Tatum Skaggs (5g, 3a) and Emma Maltias (2g, 5a), who have recorded eight and seven points in just four games, respectively.
LAST TIME OUT: UMD was swept by No. 3 Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. last Thursday and Friday by scores of 4-3 and 4-1. It was the first sweep by a Bulldog opponent since Minnesota swept UMD on Oct. 14-15, 2016 last season.
On Thursday, UMD trailed the Eagles 4-1 with 13 minutes remaining and turned in two goals on 5-on-3 power plays to pull within 4-3, but despite outshooting BC 31-26, still suffered their first setback of the season. Three different Bulldogs logged goals Thursday, including senior defenseman Catherine Daoust, and freshmen forwards Ashton Bell and Naomi Rogge. Both sophomore forward Sydney Brodt and senior defenseman Jessica Healey recorded two assists in the game.
Friday Bell again scored a power play goal to tie the game at 1-1 at 11:39 of the first period, but a natural hat-trick by Daryl Watts doomed the Bulldogs 4-1. UMD again outshot the Eagles 32-26. The game also marked the first start in net for sophomore netminder Catherine Johnson.
NOTES FROM THE BOSTON COLLEGE SERIES: In the series, the Bulldogs outshot BC 63-52, but the Eagles outscored UMD 8-4. The Bulldogs are now 6-6-1 all-time against BC. Against Hockey East opponents, UMD is now 31-14-5 all-time.
POWERED PLAY: UMD is tied for second in the NCAA with a 28.6 power play conversation rate. The Bulldogs have scored on 4-of-14 extra skater attempts, including netting three power play goals last weekend against the Eagles.
Ashton Bell is tied for second in the NCAA with two power goals, while Jalyn Elmes is tied for first with two game-winning goals. Senior goaltender Jessica Convery is also tied for second with two shutouts.
YOUNG PUPS: With the program's second largest freshman class in its history, UMD's early season success depends on its internal youth movement.
Those Bulldogs have responded, with four of UMD's top scorers underclassmen, including freshman Ashton Bell sitting just behind Sydney Brodt with two goals and an assist with three points in four skates.
Three of the Bulldogs five rookie forwards have registered goals, accounting for four of UMD's eight goals so far this season.
Bell leads all freshmen, and has recorded points in three of the Bulldogs four games, including goals in both skates against Boston College. In all, Bell has two goals and a game-winning assist.
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