OSU Women's Hockey: Buckeyes Win Opening Series

            When the horn sounded on Saturday evening, Ohio State had 124 shots, 11 goals, and a confident swagger to show for its dominating series sweep of Lindenwood in its first home stand of the 2012-2013 campaign.

            The Buckeyes’ power play efficiency and overall speed of play rendered the Cougars defenseless for the majority of the weekend.  The visitors were held to two goals in as many games, while Ohio State’s special teams managed to net six power play goals in addition to a shorthanded tally.

            Luckily for the Cougars, a quick glove hand from goaltender Nicole Hensley saved them from much more lopsided scores. Hensley made 60 and 53 saves on Friday and Saturday respectively.   

Ohio State 4, Lindenwood 0

            Lindenwood became dependent on its defense shortly into the first period when the Buckeyes began to expose a flaw in Hensley’s game.

            While Hensley did not have much trouble blocking high shots, she struggled to limit rebounds when pucks skittered low to the ice. Ohio State continued to shoot low on the freshman goalie until Tina Hollowell eventually buried a close-range rebound five minutes into the first frame to give the Scarlet and Gray a 1-0 lead.

            The Buckeyes resumed their shots from the point and battles in front of the net in the following two periods. Kari Schmitt and Taylor Kuehl each registered power play goals before Paige Semenza capped the victory with a breakaway beauty.  

Ohio State 7, Lindenwood 2

            The Buckeyes jumped out to a quick start on Saturday, surging ahead to a 4-0 advantage before the Cougars cut the lead in half midway through the second period.            

            Lindenwood ‘s goals foiled Ohio State goalie Chelsea Knapp’s attempt at a weekend of shutout hockey, but didn’t jostle the home team’s defensive corps. Knapp faced only 35 shots between the two games.

            Ohio State added three more goals after the Cougars made it 4-2 to cement its victory.

            Paige Semenza and Annie Svedin led the Scarlet and Gray, recording two goals and two assists each. Semenza now tops the Buckeyes’ leaderboard with five points heading into a weekend series at Minnesota Duluth.