UMD coach Shannon Miller wanted a convincing victory in the WCHA consolation game, and captain Caroline Ouellette was happy to oblige.
Ouellette netted two goals and added three primary assists in the 5-0 win for No. 2 UMD over Ohio State. Sophomore Riitta Schaublin made 18 saves for the shutout.
“I’m obviously very pleased with how we played as a team,” Miller said. “We knew how important it was to win convincingly today if we wanted to stay ranked second in the country.”
In the first period, UMD had the early momentum, and Ohio State came roaring back, but none of it resulted in scoring until the final minute. Flying down center ice without the puck, Ouellette won the race to the crease and deflected in a feed from linemate Noemie Marin, who had been driving up the left side.
“We had a lot of chances early on, and we couldn’t capitalize,” Ouellette said. “It was just a question of time. We kept putting pressure on, and Riitta was there when we needed her.”
Two more goals in the first five minutes of the second period put the game just about out of reach. At 2:22, Ouellette passed across to freshman defenseman Rachel Drazan, who put it in as she was falling over. At 4:07, Marin found Ouellette in front from behind the net for a 3-0 lead.
Marin and Alison Lehrke each converted feeds from Ouellette in the third period for the 5-0 final.
The game marked the end of the line for five Ohio State seniors. Most notable among them were Jeni Creary, the Buckeyes’ all-time leading scorer with 83 goals and 142 points, and goalie Melissa Glaser, who came back from two ACL reconstructions to play out her eligibility. Glaser made 22 saves in her final career start.
“She showed you her character today,” said OSU coach Jackie Barto. “She battled. She wasn’t going to give in. She dealt with adversity in a positive way. She as well as our other seniors are going to go out and be very successful, and that’s the character of our team.”
UMD will now await next Sunday’s NCAA selection decision.
