Minnesota’s Nadine Muzerall picked up her fourth hat trick of the season and was involved in all five goals to help the Gophers past Ohio State, 5-2 Saturday night in the WCHA series finale at the OSU Ice Arena.
Corinne Rosen had a hand in both Buckeye goals, scoring one on the power play and assisting in the other.
Following the series split, the Buckeyes stand at 12-14-3 overall and 9-10-3 in the WCHA. The Golden Gophers improve to 21-6-1 overall and 16-3-1 in league play.
Ambria Thomas put Minnesota on the board for the first time in the weekend series, scoring a power-play goal at 4:21 in the first stanza from Muzerall and Courtney Kennedy, the only tally in the first period.
Rosen tied things up in the second with her 13th of the season, a power-play goal, but Minnesota responded with two quick goals. Muzerall scored her first of the game at 17:03 and Kennedy notched her ninth of the season at 17:26, giving the Gophers a 3-1 lead.
The third stanza belonged to Muzerall, who completed her hat trick with a tally at 12:11 and a power-play goal at 13:16. Erin O’Grady picked up her ninth of the season when she took Kelli Halcisak’s pass from behind the net and fired the puck from point-blank range.
UM outshot OSU, 38-21. For the Buckeyes, April Stojak recorded 33 saves for a weekend total of 49, while UM’s Killewald stopped 19 Buckeye shots.
The Buckeyes converted on one of five power-play opportunities, while Minnesota converted two of four chances.
