COLUMBUS, Ohio -- North Dakota's Ashley Paulson (So., Onalaska, Wis.) scored two goals, but it wasn't enough to overcome Ohio State's late surge. Ohio State scored two goals in the final 7:40 of play in the third period to propel the Buckeyes to the victory. OSU took the lead with 32 seconds remaining in the contest on a rebound goal from Tessa Bonhomme. The goal gave the Buckeyes their first and only lead of the game.
UND took a 2-1 lead early in the third period on a goal from Ashley Paulson. Paulson deflected a shot from Ashley Lynch (So., Gilbert Plains, Manitoba) for her second goal of the game. Lynch and Melissa Jaques (Jr., Cooks Creek, Manitoba) assisted Paulson on the goal.
The Buckeyes tied the game up with 7:40 remaining in the game on a power-play goal from Erin Keys. Keys fired a slap shot off of a rebound past the UND goalie.
After a scoreless first period, UND opened up the scoring on a breakaway goal from Ashley Paulson. Paulson took the puck away from the OSU defender and buried the wrist shot over the right shoulder of the OSU goalie to give the Sioux the one-goal lead. Paulson's short-handed goal came 12:03 into the second period.
OSU responded by scoring a power-play goal 43 seconds later on a slap shot from Shannon Reilly. Reilly fired the slap shot from the blue-line and it got past the UND goalie. Lisa Chesson and Mallory Peckels assisted Reilly on the goal. It is the first time in five games that UND has allowed a power-play goal. Keys was assisted by Mallory Peckels and Bonhomme on the goal.
In the first period, each team had its scoring chances, but the 1st period ended in a 0-0 tie. The Sioux had two power-play chances, but were unable to score with the one-player advantage. After the first UND power-play, OSU stepped up the offensive pressure, but UND goalie Brittany Kirkham (So., Nepean, Ontario) stopped all three Buckeye shots.
Kirkham finished the contest with 37 saves. It is the 13th time this season that Kirkham has saved 30 or more shots in a contest.
UND was 1-6 on the power-play while Ohio State was 3-6. It is the first time in five games that the Sioux have allowed a power-play goal.
Ohio State improves its overall record to 9-8-2 and 6-7-2 in the WCHA. North Dakota drops to 3-14-4 overall and 3-10-2 in the WCHA.
The two teams will face-off again tomorrow at 3:07 p.m. (CST) at the Ohio State University Ice Rink in Columbus, Ohio.
