GRAND FORKS, N.D. --- The University of North Dakota women's hockey team extended its current winning streak to a program-record eight games after defeating Ohio State 3-2 Saturday night at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
In what turned out to be a nail-bitter that came down to the final buzzer, it was extra special for UND as it also tied the program record for wins in a season on its senior day as it honored its eight players that played in its final regular-season home game tonight after the contest.
With its efforts this weekend however, the team guaranteed that it will be back at home hosting in the first round of the WCHA Playoffs in two weeks. There are still critical points at hand though as the team concludes the regular season at Minnesota Duluth next weekend and is still battling with Wisconsin to see who finishes in second behind Minnesota.
After dominating the Buckeyes in the series-opener, UND looked like it might ease its way to another win after 20 minutes of play. The home squad was able to cash in on a couple of its early chances to take a 2-0 lead.
It was one of the seniors that scored first as Monique Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) sniped the glove-side corner only 2:01 into regulation.
Meghan Dufault doubled the lead as UND converted on its first power-play attempt of the game with a great re-direct out of mid-air off a point shot by Monique Lamoureux at the 15:12 mark. Dufault's goal was her 16th of the season which is second-best in program history.
OSU got on the scoreboard after Shelby Amsley-Benzie (Warroad, Minn.) lost her stick and Kari Schmitt sent a shot through traffic and past the netminder.
Dufault picked up her second of the night, showing some nice hands to place a rebound past Chelsea Knapp at 14:11 of the middle frame. This time it was Danielle Gagne that answered for the Buckeyes in their comeback attempt only 1:44 afterwards to cut the lead to 3-2 entering the second break.
The third period went scoreless as UND held on for the sweep. North Dakota held the Buckeyes without a shot on goal until nearly 17-minutes into the stanza and only three total. It went on to outshoot OSU 26-18 in the game.
