Jeni Creary’s two unanswered second period goals, and her assist on Heather Farrell’s game winner in the third, helped lift Ohio State past No. 6 New Hampshire, 4-3, Friday in the Wildcats’ season opener at the Whittemore Center.
The undefeated Buckeyes are 2-0-1 overall (1-0-1 WCHA) after falling out of the national rankings this week, while UNH will start off 0-1 (0-0-0 in the ECAC East). Creary’s four-point performance extends her scoring streak to three games. The rookie right wing, who was named the first star of the game, was involved in all four Ohio State goals and leads the team with seven points (4 goals, 3 assists).
The Wildcats took the early lead when Randi MacMaster scored off a breakaway at 11:56 in the first stanza. Carolyn Gordon recorded the assist. UNH outshot Ohio State, 10-8, in the first and the Buckeyes were unable to convert.
Ohio State used the first intermission to recharge its offense, as Creary scored two unanswered goals in the second period to give the Buckeyes a 2-1 lead. Emma Laaksonen and Lindsey Steblen had the Buckeyes’ first two scoring chances of the period. Laaksonen’s came at the 9:05 mark when she got a good look at an open net but couldn’t get a shot by UNH goalie Jen Huggon. Steblen took a wrap-around shot at 11:09 that Huggon also saved.
Creary’s first goal of the game came on the power play at 14:02 in the second, immediately after the Buckeyes had killed off an Emily Hudak minor penalty for high-sticking. Laaksonen got a pass off to Creary in the right faceoff circle and Creary’s shot made it past a surprised Huggon.
At 19:21, Creary knocked in her second of the game and fourth of the season. Laaksonen fed the puck to Shana Frost who found Creary in front of the Wildcat net. Creary caught Huggon looking right as she went left. The Buckeyes outshot the Wildcats, 18-4, in the period. Melissa Glaser held her own between the pipes, nabbing a glove save on UNH defenseman Allison Edgar’s shot 12 minutes in.
New Hampshire opened the third period with two quick goals to reclaim the lead. Edgar and MacMaster converted at 3:04 and 3:41, respectively. Just one minute after the Wildcats went up, 3-2, Jennifer Desson scored the equalizer. Creary took a shot which deflected off Huggon and Desson was ready for the rebound, converting at 4:46.
The game was knotted at three until UNH killed off part of an Ohio State 5-on-3 advantage, which occured at 12:20 in the third. Farrell scored the gamewinner at 13:39 from Creary, Ohio State’s second power-play tally of the game.
For the third-consecutive game, Ohio State outshot its opponent. The Buckeyes had a 40-19 advantage in shots over the Wildcats. Glaser finished the night with 16 saves, while Huggon recorded 36.
The Buckeyes went 2-for-5 on the power play and held the Wildcats scoreless through three opportunities.
Ohio State and UNH will meet again in the series finale at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Whittemore Center.
