News Tribune OSU Sweep Article

College women's hockey: Larocque’s clutch goal helps ’Dogs edge Ohio State
News Tribune, Duluth News Tribune
Published Sunday, February 03, 2008
The freshman class continues to shine for Minnesota Duluth.

Saturday’s star was Joss Larocque.

The defender from Winnipeg, Manitoba, scored the game-winning goal at 18:10 of the third period to boost the Bulldogs past Ohio State 3-2 in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game at the OSU Ice Rink in Columbus, Ohio.

“Our entire first line was out,” UMD coach Shannon Miller said of the injured or sick absences of Iya Gavrilova, Saara Tuominen and Elin Holmlov. “We just had to get a win3-2, 2-1, whatever, and we did it.”

UMD beat the Buckeyes 6-2 Friday night behind two goals from freshman winger Laura Fridfinnson.

The third-ranked Bulldogs (24-3-1, 21-3 WCHA) have won 16 straight games.

Larocque has been in UMD’s top defensive pair since the start of the season and has registered three goals and 15 assists.

Fellow freshman Haley Irwin scored the other two goals for UMD. The freshman center from Thunder Bay, Ontario, scored on a breakaway at 6:10 of the second period to tie the score at 1.

Mallory Peckels scored a short-handed goal as Ohio State took a 2-1 lead at 9:27 of the third.

Irwin scored her second goal of the game at 10:03 to tie the game at 2 before Larocque won it.

Ohio State (12-13-3, 7-12-3) had a 38-30 shot advantage, with a 14-5 edge and a 1-0 lead after one period.

UMD goalie Kim Martin made 36 saves, and Deidre Facklis had 27 stops for the Buckeyes.

Saturday’s late game-winner was the second time the Bulldogs have staved off defeat in 2008. Senior captain Karine Demeule scored with six seconds left as the Bulldogs edged Minnesota State-Mankato 2-1 on Jan. 11.