Ohio State emerged from a two-goal deficit after the first period to tie Minnesota State-Mankato, 2-2, Saturday afternoon at the Midwest Wireless Civic Center.
The Buckeyes took three points from the Mavericks on the weekend and now are 4-5-2 overall and 3-3-2 in the WCHA. Mankato picked up its first conference point and stands at 1-10-1 overall and 0-9-1 in the WCHA. Melissa Pirie scored the game-tying goal, her first of the season, and third point of the weekend series.
Mankato got on the board first at 7:25 in the first period as Tristin Stephenson put the puck past OSU goalie April Stojak for MSU’s first goal of the weekend. Thirty-five seconds later, the Mavericks converted again when Sheri Maisonneuve scored from Jody Ramkin.
But 3:34 into the second stanza, the Buckeyes mounted an offensive attack, first as Corinne Rosen took a shot from the far right corner of the Maverick net for her sixth goal of the season. Rosen now leads the team in scoring with six goals and four assists, and is just one point away from 100 for her career.
At 13:03, Pirie scored from Lindsey Ogren and Kelli Halcisak and tied the game at two.
Neither team was able to score in the third period or overtime.
For the second consecutive game, the Buckeyes held the Mavericks to single-digit shots in every period, including one shot in both the second and overtime periods. OSU outshot MSU, Mankato, 45-16.
OSU was unable to convert two power-play opportunities and held MSU, Mankato scoreless through four Buckeye penalties.
Stojak recorded 14 saves, while MSU’s Katie Beauduy stopped 43 Buckeye shots.
