COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 1 Ohio State women's hockey team defeated Minnesota State, 3-0, in the first game of the series at Mayo Clinic HSEC in Mankato, Minn. on Friday night. 
 
How it Happened
The Buckeyes (25-2-0, 22-1-0 WCHA) scored three goals in the first period to take the 3-0 win over the Mavericks (10-20-0, 4-19-0 WCHA).
 
Jocelyn Amos tallied the first goal of the game, and the game-winner, at 4:14 into the game. Stephanie Markowski played the puck from behind the goal line to the front of the net, looking to find Makenna Webster who was camped out at the top of the goal crease. The Mavericks defense didn't allow Webster to get a stick on it and instead knocked the puck onto the stick of Amos, who was in the slot ready to backhand the puck past the glove of Hansen.
 
With just over six minutes to play in the period, Ohio State stalled a Minnesota State rush at its own blue line. Hannah Bilka skated into the Mavericks zone with the puck, dropping it behind herself to Jenna Buglioni before screening the opposing net. Buglioni immediately took a shot through traffic and scored at 14:04.
 


Cayla Barnes recorded the final tally for the Buckeyes at 17:28. Markowski, for her second assist of the game, found Barnes in the slot and the Eastvale, Calif. native got a piece of her stick on it to sneak the puck just inside the left post.
 
Ohio State outshot the Mavericks, 17-5, in the opening frame to take its lead. The team held Minnesota State to just one shot in the first five minutes of the game. In the final five minutes of the period, Ohio State had just one shot attempt to Minnesota State's eight. Of those eight, three went wide and Ohio State blocked two and saved three to hold the Mavericks scoreless.
 
The Buckeyes continued to outshoot their opponent in the second frame by an 11-7 margin but were not able to find the back of the net. In the final frame, Ohio State was outshot, 5-8, but Buckeye goaltender Raygan Kirk stood strong to keep the Mavericks off the scoreboard.
 
Game Notes

• With two assists in the game, Bilka has surpassed the 100 career assists mark. She has now tallied 101 helpers in her career. She has 61 goals for her career, bringing her career point total to 162.
• Barnes has tallied a career-high 24 points and seven goals on the season. She is one point shy of 100 for her career.
• Raygan Kirk posted 20 saves to improve to 14-1-0 on the year and earn her sixth shutout of the season. She is tied for second in the country in shutouts this season.
• Markowski tallied her fifth multi-point game of the season with two assists on Friday.

Statistically Speaking
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 33, Minnesota State 20
Saves: Minnesota State (Hansen) 30, Ohio State (Kirk) 20
Power Play: Ohio State 0-1, Minnesota State 0-3
Faceoffs: Ohio State 25, Bemidji State 22
Ohio State Scoring (G-A-P): Bilka (0-2-2), Markowski (0-2-2), Amos (1-0-1), Barnes (1-0-1), Buglioni (1-0-1), Brengman (0-1-1), Zanon (0-1-1)
 
Up Next
Ohio State and Minnesota State close the regular season series tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).