Jeanne Chapple’s goal with less than a minute remaining sealed a Buckeye victory as Ohio State defeated the Connecticut Huskies 3-1 Friday in a nonconference tilt at the UConn Ice Arena. Chapple also scored the first OSU goal and Jeni Creary set up two goals, including Shana Frost’s game-winner.
Ohio State (4-5-2 overall, 2-4-2 WCHA) dominated play in the first stanza behind strong forechecking but did not have many scoring chances. The Huskies (4-4-1 overall, 3-2-0 ECAC East) got on the board first when Sara Mahoney took advantage of a Buckeye turnover and scored on a breakaway with just 1:35 remaining in the period.
The Buckeyes outshot the Huskies, 13-2 in the second period, keeping most of the action in the Husky zone. Chapple knotted the game at one with her goal at the 14:17 mark. Creary got control of the puck just past the center line and skated it along the boards. Her shot from the strong side was blocked by the defense. Chapple picked up the rebound and took a shot through traffic which found the back of the net for her second goal of the season.
At 6:34 in the third stanza, Frost knocked in her third power-play goal of the season, the game-winner. Emily Hudak sent a point pass to Creary, and Frost redirected Creary’s shot on net past Husky goalie Shannon Murphy.
The Buckeyes held the Huskies to just one shot on goal in the period. Chapple tallied an insurance goal at 19:05 in the third from Jennifer Desson.
Ohio State had a 30-7 advantage in shots over UConn. Buckeye netminder April Stojak finished with six saves and recorded her second win of the season. Murphy tallied 27 stops.
The Buckeyes went 1-for-4 with the man advantage and held UConn scoreless through three power-play chances.
Ohio State will close out the weekend with a stop at Providence College. The Buckeyes and Friars meet for the first time at 2 p.m. Sunday at Schneider Arena.
