Josefin Bouveng and Nelli Laitinen each had a goal and two assists as the No. 3 Gophers women’s hockey team rebounded from its first loss of the season with a 6-3 victory over No. 2 Ohio State on Sunday at Ridder Arena, a game that featured nine players penalized following a postgame brawl.
Following a faceoff between the Gophers’ Emma Kreisz and Ohio State’s Jordan Baxter with 3.3 seconds left. The two players got tangled up after the faceoff, Baxter appeared to cross-check Kreisz in the back, the Gophers’ Chloe Primerano objected and — with players from both teams on the ice following the final horn — pushing and shoving between players continued for about 30 seconds before coaches and officials broke them up.
The Gophers’ Gracie Graham and Ohio State’s Kassidy Carmichael — who were penalized for roughing with 3.3 seconds left — received disqualifications. In addition, seven game misconducts were issued, four to the Buckeyes and three to the Gophers.
In all, the Gophers were penalized nine times for 50 minutes, the Buckeyes 11 for 65.
“A great start, first and foremost,” Gophers coach Brad Frost told reporters after the game, not addressing the brawl. “Certainly came out with much more compete and courage here tonight, which was fantastic. [Goalie Hannah Clark] was great all night, especially late. Up two goals there and she made a huge save and then we were able to score shortly after that to get it back to three. A huge win against a really good team. I’m proud of our group.”
The Gophers (7-1, 3-1 WCHA) scored three times in the first 13 minutes Sunday. Bella Fanale scored to open the scoring with 15:01 remaining in the first. Bouveng and Ava Lindsay scored 88 seconds apart to extend the lead, with Lindsay making it 3-0 with 6:59 left in the period.
Joy Dunne scored in the final minute of the first period to pull Ohio State (5-1, 3-1) within 3-1.
