Junior forward Luci Bianci scored the lone goal for the St. Thomas women’s hockey team as the Tommies were unable to catch up with No. 2 ranked Ohio State University’s eight goals, ending the program’s 600th overall game in an 8-1 loss Friday night at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights.
Bianci’s goal was scored on a two on one when a rebound popped out after a shot by junior forward Maija Almich.
“That’s a thing we practice a lot … if we don’t have a good shot or a pass to hit it off the pad for a rebound,” Bianci said. “And it just happened.”
This was coach Joel Johnson’s first home game back while out on obligations related to his role as the United States Olympic women’s hockey coach.
“I was really excited about how we played,” Johnson said. “Certainly, we gave up some faceoff opportunities that we got to clean up, but other than that, I’m OK.”
The Buckeyes (9-2, 9-2 WCHA) put itself on the board in the final minute of play in the first period with a goal by graduate student forward Clair DeGeorge assisted by senior forward Paetyn Levis.
After two goals in the first half of the second period from Ohio State junior forward Kenzie Hauswirth and graduate student forward Lexi Templeman, Bianci’s goal for the Tommies (4-6-1, 2-6-1 WCHA) towards the tail end of the period was followed by another goal from the Buckeyes by sophomore forward Jenna Buglioni to seal the period with a 4-1 lead.
“They’re big, they’re strong,” Bianci said. “We know that they’re really good.”
Ohio State finished things off in the third period with two goals by graduate student forward Liz Schepers and senior forward Gabby Rosenthal at the top of the period. Followed by first-year defender Jamie Grinder’s and Buglioni’s goals for the Buckeyes within two minutes of each other towards the end of the game.
The Tommies were heavily outshot by the Buckeyes, 45-9, with Tommies’ first-year Saskia Maurer in net for the majority of the game. Maurer saved 34 shots before senior and former Division III player Eryn Cooley took over for the final eight minutes of the third period, saving three shots.
Buckeyes’ sophomore Amanda Thiele had its net for the entirety of the game, saving all but one shot from the Tommies.
“I’m so proud of Eryn,” Johnson said. “She’s earned the right to be a Division I goalie. I was excited to see her play.”
The Tommies are back at St. Thomas Ice Arena for a 2 p.m. Saturday rematch against the Buckeyes.
“We’ll go back and watch and see what we need to do differently,” Johnson said.
Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.