Minnesota won its 15th Western Collegiate Hockey Association game as the Golden Gophers shut out eighth-ranked Ohio State. With the win, the Gophers extended their unbeaten streak to 23 straight games.
Minnesota opened the first period putting three goals on the board, the first coming at 5:21 into the game. Kristy Oonincx scored in front of the net on a cross-ice pass from La Toya Clarke, with the second assist going to Kelly Stephens. Minnesota scored its 27th power-play goal of the season when Ronda Curtin scored on a slapshot. Clarke set up the goal with the additional assist going to Oonincx.
The Golden Gophers earned the third goal under the one minute mark as Laura Slominski scored her 16th goal of the season with four seconds remaining in the first stanza. Kelly Stephens had the assist. By the end of the first period, Clarke, Oonincx and Stephens tallied two points.
The Gophers added two goals in the second period to put Minnesota up 5-0, which led to the final score. The Gophers started the rally 1:54 into the second when La Toya Clarke added the goal, with Oonincx and Kelsey Bills on the assists. The Gophers tallied their fifth goal when Tracy Engstrom added her 13th goal of the season. The play started when Bills wound up for the slapshot, which was tipped by Slominski and finally Engstrom.
The two teams went scoreless throughout the third period. Ohio State had three power-play opportunities in the third, including a five-on-three opportunity, but could not convert. Rookie goalie Jody Horak collected her fourth shutout on the season. She is unbeaten in 14 games, posting a 12-0-2 record.
It was the sixth shutout that the Gophers have handed their opponents, two in the last three games. In the last two series, Minnesota has outscored its opponents, 14-1. The Gophers have not allowed more then one goal in a game since the 3-2 overtime win over Bemidji State, Jan. 13, 2002.
