Feb. 4, 2005

[box score]

BEMIDJI, Minn. - Bemidji State (6-19-2, 6-18-2 WCHA) gave up five unanswered goals after lighting the scoreboard first to drop a 5-1 decision to the Ohio State Buckeyes (13-12-2, 10-12-1 WCHA). The Beavers managed to outshoot the visitors 40-28. An early goal from the BSU offense would be their only tally for the game.

The Beavers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period of Friday afternoon’s game behind a slapshot from the point off the stick of defenseman Jenny Schnickel (Sr.; Coon Rapids, Minn.) with 2:15 to play in the period. Nikki Eckebrecht (So.; Hamilton, Ont.) gathered her ninth assist of the season on the goal. Schnickel’s marker continued her career success against Ohio State tallying her fifth career point against the Buckeyes. Of her nine career goals three of them have come against OSU.

Bemidji State was able to hold off the Buckeye offense for the rest of the first period, but the first five minutes of period two proved to be the difference in the game as Ohio State lit the lamp twice. Katie Sershen’s goal at the 17:00 minute mark and Meaghan Mulvaney power-play score with 15:53 to play in the period put OSU in the lead 2-1.

The Buckeyes put together one more second period goal by way of team goal scoring leader Jeni Creary. Creary would also post a goal near the end of the third period to put up her third point (2g. 1a) of the day and 20th goal of the season. Her goal came after Crystal Sayther put home an empty netter while the Beavers went with an extra attacker.

Sixteen shots by the Beavers in the third period gave them some scoring opportunities, but BSU was unable to slip one past Buckeye goalie Melissa Glaser. Glaser saved 39 shots in the win and improved her season record to 6-6-1.

Bemidji State goalie Emily Brookshaw (Fr.; Webster, Wis.) allowed four goals in the loss while stopping 23 shots from Ohio State. Brookshaw saw her record fall to 3-8-1 on the season.

Special teams played a big role in today’s game with the Buckeyes scoring on two of their three power-play opportunities while holding the Beaver power-play scoreless in three attempts.

BSU has now lost the last four meetings versus Ohio State including two games earlier this season and eight of the last nine in the all-time. Also, the Buckeyes snapped a four-game winless streak.

The Beavers and Buckeyes will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse to finish off the weekend series. The puck will drop at 2:05 p.m.

-bsu-