STORRS, Conn. (Oct. 5, 2007) - The University of Connecticut women's ice hockey team fell to 10th ranked Ohio State 3-2 on Friday night at the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum.
Ohio State, after earning 15 points for 10th in the country according to the USCHO.com Poll, controlled the puck offensively for a majority of the first period, using quick passing to open up their scoring opportunities. The Buckeyes opened up scoring at 9:55 with a goal by senior Tessa Bonhomme. Seniors Erin Keys and Mallory Peckels assisted on the goal while Keys added a goal of her own with less than two minutes remaining in the first period. Bonhomme repaid Keys with the pass and earned the assist along with Mallory Peckels.
The Huskies, who received three points towards the USCHO.com Division I Women's Poll, released Monday, Oct. 1, scored their first goal of the game as sophomore Justine Cigna (Milford, Mich.) hit the back of the net on a rebound shot after the puck was deflected off the pipe. A slap shot originally hit by Samantha Reid (Innisfil, Ont.), tipped of freshman Jennifer Chaisson's (Cumberland, Ont.) stick before hitting the post and connecting for Cigna's second goal of her career.
With the game's momentum in their favor, the Huskies attacked the Buckeyes' net and tied the game at 4:24 in the third period at 2-2. Sophomore Amy Hollstein (Pembroke, Mass.) sent a pass to senior co-captain Bridget King (Paxton, Mass.), who found sophomore Michelle Binning (Oshawa, Ont.) in front of the net for a perfect shot. The tying goal marked Binning's fifth career goal and first on the season.
But Ohio State answered back at 10:34 in the third period with the game-winning goal, sent into the net unassisted by sophomore Michele Tonnesse.
The Huskies were out-shot 26-30 in the close battle as UConn goaltender Brittany Wilson (Nepean, Ont.) recorded 27 saves in 58:17 minutes played. Ohio State goaltender, Liana Bonanno, was able to hold the Huskies to two goals, as she recorded 24 saves, including 11 in the first period alone.
The Huskies, now 0-1-0 will face Ohio State at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6 for another non-conference match-up before hosting Minnesota State on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12-13 in the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum.