NORTHEASTERN FALLS TO OHIO STATE, 9-3

Ohio State's Tessa Bonhomme and Amber Bowman combined for seven points as the Northeastern women's hockey team fell short in its 2006-07 season-opener, losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 9-3, on Friday evening at the OSU Ice Rink.

The Buckeyes came out strong and never looked back in winning their first game of the season. It took the home team only 74 seconds to score its first goal, as Bonhomme scored to give the Buckeyes a one-goal lead. Four and a half minutes later it was Bonhomme again, scoring a power-play tally to give Ohio State a two-goal advantage only 5:46 into the game.

Northeastern attempted to come back, as freshman Annie Hogan scored her first collegiate goal at 17:57 of the first period to get the Huskies back into the game heading into the first intermission.

As the second period began, however, Bowman crushed any hope of a Northeastern comeback. Just over two minutes into the second frame, the Buckeye scored a back-breaking shorthanded tally to give her team a 3-1 lead. Less than four minutes later, Bowman scored again - this time on a power play - to score the fourth goal that would eventually be the game-winner.

The third period provided plenty more scoring, as senior assistant captain Marie Desrosiers scored her first of the season, with assists going to Hogan and senior Crystal Rochon. After Ohio State scored two more goals, junior Nikki Petrich took passes from senior captain Amy Goodney and sophomore Erin Reil for the Huskies' third and final goal of the evening. Ohio State's Raelyn LaRocque put an end to the offensive fireworks with 31 seconds remaining in the third period with the Buckeyes' second shorthanded tally of the game.

The major problem for Northeastern on Friday was special teams play. The Buckeyes went 4-for-4 with the man advantage, as well as scored two shorthanded goals. The Huskies, meanwhile, could not score once on nine power-play opportunities.

Freshman Sydney Arbelbide got the start for Northeastern in her first collegiate game, and had a rough evening. The Littleton, Colo., native gave up six goals on 21 shots before being replaced by sophomore Stacey Scott near the end of the second period. Scott gave up three goals and made nine saves in almost 25 minutes of action. For Ohio State, Erika Vanderveer played well, allowing two goals on 15 shots, while Jill Mauch played the final 10:10 for OSU and allowed one goal.

Northeastern will look to salvage a split in its season-opening series with the Buckeyes when the two teams return to the ice tomorrow night for another 7:07 p.m. face-off.