University of St. Thomas Athletics
8-24-1, 2-23-1
Ohio State
28-2-0, 25-1-0
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Tommies can't hold early lead against #1 Ohio State
2/17/2024 4:46:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Ella Boerger scores 11th goal in 4-1 loss
COLUMBUS, OHIO – There were plenty of story lines entering the University of St. Thomas women's hockey game against #1 Ohio State. After a disappointing 12-1 loss on Friday, the Tommies were looking to flip the script and not only upset the #1 team in the nation but jump into seventh place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) standings. Seventeen seconds into the game, it looked like St. Thomas might do just that, snagging a 1-0 lead on a goal by Ella Boerger (Andover, Minn. / Andover). Unfortunately, the Tommies could not hold that early advantage, falling to the Buckeyes by a final score of 4-1. With the loss, St. Thomas is now 8-24-1 overall and 2-23-1 in WCHA play.
RECAP:
The Tommies wasted no time flipping the script from Friday to Saturday, as Ella Boerger (Andover, Minn. / Andover) gave St. Thomas a 1-0 lead over the #1 team in the country just 17 seconds into regulation. Nicole Vallario's (Lugano, Switzerland / SPSE Tenero) slapshot from the blue line was initially saved, but the rebound squeaked away from the Buckeyes goalie and right onto the stick of Boerger. With no one the wiser, the first year buried the puck in the back of the net, securing an early 1-0 lead for the Tommies, their first all season against Ohio State.
The Buckeyes would tie things up at 12:29 in the first, as Cayla Barnes slipped one past Calla Frank (Hugo, Minn. / White Bear Lake) to even things up 1-1. However, up to that point, Frank made 12 saves, becoming the first goalie in the Division I era to surpass the 2000 career saves milestone. The graduate student-athlete would close the first period with 15 on 16 shots, securing a 1-1 draw for St. Thomas after 15 minutes of play.
Ohio State continued to pepper Frank and the Tommie defense with shots in the second, tallying 38 shots, including 19 on goal, in the period. Frank saved all but two, surrendering goals at 6:33 and 13:58 for a 3-1 Buckeye lead. St. Thomas wasn't without its own chances in the second. Rylee Bartz (Fargo, N.D. / Warroad) and Laura Stenslie (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove) each had Grade A chances throughout the period but were unable to capitalize against the starting netminder Raygan Kirk. Breja Parent (Forest Lake, Minn. / Forest Lake) and Alli Pahl (Medicine Hart, Alberta / Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna) also generated some chances for the Tommies late in the period, and Allie Monrean (Anchorage, Alaska / Culver Academy) saw herself one-on-one with Kirk with 30 seconds remaining in the period. Kirk saved Monrean's breakaway shot, preserving the 3-1 lead for Ohio State headed into the third.
The Buckeyes would add another goal early in the third, making it 4-1 after Cara Sajevic (Shoreview, Minn. / Gentry Academy) was sent to the box for tripping eight minutes into the period. Despite the three-goal deficit, the Tommies continued to battle, as Frank continued to make save after save. In the end, though, St. Thomas could not overcome Ohio State's late barrage, falling by a final score of 4-1.
TOP TOMMIES
- Ella Boerger (Andover, Minn. / Andover) scored St. Thomas' lone goal of the afternoon, making it 1-0 Tommies just 17 seconds into regulation. Assists were credited to Rylee Bartz (Fargo, N.D. / Warroad) and Nicole Vallario (Lugano, Switzerland / SPSE Tenero).
- Calla Frank (Hugo, Minn. / White Bear Lake) made a St. Thomas career-high 49 saves on 53 shots, while Laura Stenslie (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove) closed with a team-leading five blocks.
NOTEABLES
Junior captain Maddy Clough (Andover, Minn. / Andover) played in her 100th career game Saturday afternoon, becoming the second Tommie to eclipse the mark this season. Clough closed the game with four blocks.
WE LOVE YOU 2000
Graduate senior Calla Frank (Hugo, Minn. / White Bear Lake) recorded her 2000th career 5ave Saturday afternoon, becoming the first St. Thomas goalie in the DI era to eclipse the milestone. Thanks to her 14 saves in the first period, Frank eclipsed the mark just 10 minutes into regulation and closed the game with a Tommie career high 49 saves.
UP NEXT
St. Thomas will face Minnesota State in its final series of the 2023-24 regular season. The Tommies will travel to Mankato, Minnesota on Friday before hosting the Mavericks at 2:07 p.m. CT on Saturday, January 24. All tickets for Saturday's game are $1 as St. Thomas looks to sell out St. Thomas Arena for the first time in the Division I era. Purchase today at www.tommiesports.com/tickets.
