Stepping into an Olympic-sized vacancy Friday night, Jojo Chobak showed up and shut out the NCAA's highest scoring team in her first career start.

Behind the cool and collected play of Chobak, the No. 8 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team held No. 2 Ohio State University scoreless en route to knocking off the Buckeyes 1-0 in front of a sold out crowd at the OSU Ice Rink in Columbus, Ohio.  UMD stretched its current winning streak to five games with the triumph, and the Bulldogs have allowed just two goals in their last three games.

Chobak entered Friday's game with just four college games under her belt, and all in a relief role for newly minted Olympian Emma Soderberg. The sophomore goaltender from Chicago, Ill. was outstanding as a starter, and turned away all 27 shots she faced, including 13 in the third period. Chobak's steel spine down the stretch helped the Bulldogs not only completely shutdown the nation's top scoring offense (5.45 goals per game entering Friday's showdown), but allowed a counterpunch late in regulation for the win.

After more than 58 minutes of scoreless hockey, UMD's scoring break came at the 19:27 mark of the third period.  Senior defenseman convert Kylie Hanley took a pass to the point from Taylor Anderson, and the senior's wrist shot beat OSU netminder Amanda Thiele high and glove side for her fourth goal of the season and first game-winner.

"You have to play whatever game you're in," said coach Crowell when asked about the game UMD had prepared for, given both teams' scoring abilities and new goaltenders in net. "I am really proud of the way our defense played tonight, I thought they were great.  We got back to pucks really quickly, were good 1-on-1, our sticks were great and then hey, look who scored the goal tonight?  The defense.  So kudos for them for showing up big tonight."

While Chobak earned her first career shutout and brought UMD's total on the season to five, OSU's Thiele also had 27 saves for the Buckeyes.  The Bulldogs one shot on goal advantage was the difference of the contest – 28-27, and UMD also never put the Buckeye's NCAA-best power play on the ice either. UMD handed OSU their first home setback of the season and fall to 17-4-0 overall and 13-4-0 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play.

UMD (14-7-0, 11-6-0) improves to 2-1 against the Buckeyes on the season and will attempt a series sweep against OSU tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. ET time. 

"Everyone is excited about this win,' said Crowell. "We know how important it is for our team in the rankings, but most importantly for our team and to prove that we are capable of beating anyone in the country."

BULLDOG NOTES:  UMD has now won its last five games and improves to 5-5-0 against top-10 teams ... even more impressively, the Bulldogs have four wins against teams in the top-5.