Minnesota-Duluth’s Maria Rooth scored the game winner at the 1:36 mark in overtime — her second goal of the game and fourth of the series — to lead Minnesota-Duluth past Ohio State (13-9-4 overall, 7-8-3 WCHA), 3-2 Saturday at the OSU Ice Rink.
UMD improves to 17-4-3 overall and 12-4-2 WCHA following the series sweep of the Buckeyes. Emily Hudak, playing in the 100th game of her career, tallied assists on both Ohio State goals. After not seeing any action since Nov. 16 at Connecticut, OSU goalie April Stojak was impressive between the pipes, stopping 34 of 37 UMD shots.
Erin O’Grady gave Ohio State a 1-0 lead at 5:07 in the first stanza. Hudak picked up the puck along the boards and sent it to Jeanne Chapple, who found O’Grady ready to one-time a shot into the open net.
O’Grady’s goal came just two seconds following the end of a Buckeye power play. The Buckeyes held the Bulldogs scoreless through the first, despite getting outshot, 11-4.
Jeni Creary made it 2-0 Buckeyes with a beautiful goal at the 9:03 mark of the second period off a Hudak pass and a defenseman’s skate. Creary delivered an impressive shot to the top shelf for her 22nd of the season.
But Rooth pulled UMD to within one with her goal on the breakaway at 10:27 from Nora Tallus and Joanne Eustace, and with a little over five minutes remaining in the third period, Michelle McAteer tied the game at two.
The Buckeyes managed just two shots on net in the third and were unable to convert, sending the game into overtime, their eighth trip to an extra session this season. Rooth returned from serving a two-minute minor for hooking at 1:05 in the overtime period and scored the winner 30 seconds later.
UMD outshot Ohio State, 37-16. For the second consecutive night, the number-one two penalty-killing teams in the WCHA held each other scoreless on the power play. Both were unable to convert in four opportunities with the man advantage.
Stojak registered a season-best 34 saves. Sautter stopped 14 of 16 Buckeye shots.
