Ohio State vs Niagara 12/2 - 12/3

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State vs Niagara 12/2 - 12/3

Disclaimer: I don't claim to be an expert.

Key NU players for this weekend’s tilt vs OSU:
Erica Owczarczak – I believe this senior defender will be assigned (when possible) to go against Spooner’s line. No easy task, so good luck.

Erin Burns – A junior defender that transferred from Syracuse logs plenty of minutes and will continue to tonight.

Point leaders So Jessica Hitchcock (13), Jr Kelsey Welch (13), and Jr Jenna Hendrikx (11) always seem to generate scoring chances and will need to continue to do so.

Kaleigh Chippy – A sophomore forward with great hands has only 3 goals on the season but could be 10. Slick player that needs to shoot more often.

Kayla Raniwsky – leads all freshmen with 3-5-8 points. Gets her points by going to the tough areas and coming out with the puck.

Players due for a breakout game:
Kristin Richards – this sophomore forward is better than her current 5 points on the season. She is a big strong player that gets chances, but hasn’t been able to finish. Maybe tonight!

Kathleen Bortuzzo – Junior forward with only 2 goals and 5 points on the season. Her slow start is due to an early season injury, but she is better every time out. Look for her to play top minutes.

Amy Helfrich – is a 5’1” freshmen forward with only 2 assists on the season. Early on Amy has not played/averaged many minutes per game, but is getting more with each passing game. She is a feisty little player that can cause the opposition to turn over the puck in their end. Watch for her to get her first goal this weekend..... Off a turn over.

Goaltending: Not sure who's getting the start, but Moses has played the last three games.
Sara Moses So (2-4-3) GAA - 3.45 SA% .875
Abby Ryplanski Fr (5-2-1) GAA - 1.74 SA% .930

Thanks for the scouting report PurpleEagles! Should be an interesting weekend. Pgb, I'm not sure about ARM's question. Maybe you could answer the question. I think ARM is correct. I think Spoon, Laura Mac, and Hokey are on the same line, but I am not 100% sure.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State vs Niagara 12/2 - 12/3

If anyone is there tonight, I will be flying solo (wife is working late) and sporting my horizontally-striped OSU Hockey Sweater (says Buckeyes on the front). Don't be bashful, come say hello! I sit in about the same place every game (definitely a creature of habit).

 

[PurpleEagles]

If anyone is there tonight, I will be flying solo (wife is working late) and sporting my horizontally-striped OSU Hockey Sweater (says Buckeyes on the front). Don't be bashful, come say hello! I sit in about the same place every game (definitely a creature of habit).

My pleasure osualum... Enjoy the game live! I'll be watching online (dang it).

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State vs Niagara 12/2 - 12/3

Hey there, PurpleEagles, was that game as ugly online as it was for me in person? At least you got some "bonus hockey" tonight (OT and shootout). I should probably give your team the credit for this, but we did not play very well tonight. We were lucky to get out of this one with a shootout win. I didn't want to say anything, but I talked to one of our injured players after the game. Her exact quote was "That was ugly." My response to her was that I wasn't going to say anything, but I told her we did not look like ourselves tonight. Anyway, I was impressed by the fight in Niagara and the way they defended tonight. I'll have to head over to the WCHA thread and check out Pgb's "unofficial" three stars of the game. I have to think he will include one of your players in that after this one! Oh, and it's unfortunate that you didn't make it down, but many of your fans did. That was one of the better visiting crowds I have seen at the OSU Ice Rink this season. Should be interesting tomorrow. I will be interested in seeing if we step up our game and win in regulation or if Niagara continues their stellar play and earns a split. Hey, thanks for joining us on this thread! We're still looking for our first-ever NCAA Tournament bid. That's tough to do when you're in the same league as Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota-Duluth, not to mention North Dakota and those doggone Lamoreux twins. Enjoy tomorrow's game. I'll be on here when we get home to chat about what I saw. Take care PurpleEagles, and good luck this season!

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Ohio State vs Niagara 12/2 - 12/3

Hey there, PurpleEagles, was that game as ugly online as it was for me in person? At least you got some "bonus hockey" tonight (OT and shootout). I should probably give your team the credit for this, but we did not play very well tonight. We were lucky to get out of this one with a shootout win. I didn't want to say anything, but I talked to one of our injured players after the game. Her exact quote was "That was ugly."

Well, there's the blunt version and the diplomatic version. My take on the 3 Stars is that "the Buckeyes weren't as sharp as usual."

My response to her was that I wasn't going to say anything, but I told her we did not look like ourselves tonight. Anyway, I was impressed by the fight in Niagara and the way they defended tonight. I'll have to head over to the WCHA thread and check out Pgb's "unofficial" three stars of the game.

http://board.uscho.com/showthread.php?92704-WCHA-Thread-III&p=5284878 See Post #599.

I have to think he will include one of your players in that after this one!

Honorable Mention: #9 Kelsey Welch
Second Star: #27 Erica Owczarczak

Oh, and it's unfortunate that you didn't make it down, but many of your fans did. That was one of the better visiting crowds I have seen at the OSU Ice Rink this season...

Ohio native Kayleigh Chippy had a good contingent of fans in the house.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Ohio State vs Niagara 12/2 - 12/3

...Pgb, I'm not sure about ARM's question. Maybe you could answer the question. I think ARM is correct. I think Spoon, Laura Mac, and Hokey are on the same line, but I am not 100% sure.

We have seen more of this line lately, but not on a permanent basis. The line-up has varied from game to game, and situationally. One point to keep in mind is that Melissa Feste has been out with an injury for an extended period. Not sure when she's expected back. But Feste had been playing as a top six forward. Her absence inevitably led to some experimenting with different combinations. Most likely different combinations would have been tried anyway, but you get the point.

 

[ARM]

Re: Ohio State vs Niagara 12/2 - 12/3

One point to keep in mind is that Melissa Feste has been out with an injury for an extended period. Not sure when she's expected back.

Maybe they just stand out more in my mind, but it seems that these major injuries so often happen to seniors. Feste has only played in two games, so she would be eligible for a red-shirt season if she doesn't return. However, I can see the attraction for her of finishing with her class, because it has been a very dynamic bunch. Best wishes to her.

 

[osualum86]

Re: Ohio State vs Niagara 12/2 - 12/3

Maybe they just stand out more in my mind, but it seems that these major injuries so often happen to seniors. Feste has only played in two games, so she would be eligible for a red-shirt season if she doesn't return. However, I can see the attraction for her of finishing with her class, because it has been a very dynamic bunch. Best wishes to her.

Talked to Melissa recently and she started skating this past week. I doubt if she will play in the Minnesota series next weekend, but I think she may be back at the end of the month after the holiday break when we play Princeton at the end of the year. It amazes me how quickly these young athletes can recover from injuries. Kim Theut's return is a little more uncertain. I know she wants to come back this season for her senior year. We are also missing one of our freshman defensemen (Kari Schmitt). The "Twin Towers" (Kari and sister Sara) had been on the same D-line, so Coach Nate has had to shuffle the defensive lines a little, too. Hope to see all of them on the ice soon!

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Ohio State vs Niagara 12/2 - 12/3

The Unofficial Three Stars List for Saturday's Game is now available on the WCHA thread. See Post #602.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Ohio State vs Niagara 12/2 - 12/3

...We are also missing one of our freshman defensemen (Kari Schmitt). The "Twin Towers" (Kari and sister Sara) had been on the same D-line, so Coach Nate has had to shuffle the defensive lines a little, too.

There's a certainly a sisterly synergy between the Schmitts. (Try saying that fast five times!) Not that any of the Sara's other 'D' partners have played badly. Quite the reverse is true. But there's no denying that the Buckeyes will get better when Sara and Kari are reunited. Together they are > the sum of the parts.

 

[PurpleEagles]

Re: Ohio State vs Niagara 12/2 - 12/3

Hey there, PurpleEagles, was that game as ugly online as it was for me in person? At least you got some "bonus hockey" tonight (OT and shootout). I should probably give your team the credit for this, but we did not play very well tonight. We were lucky to get out of this one with a shootout win. I didn't want to say anything, but I talked to one of our injured players after the game. Her exact quote was "That was ugly." My response to her was that I wasn't going to say anything, but I told her we did not look like ourselves tonight. Anyway, I was impressed by the fight in Niagara and the way they defended tonight. I'll have to head over to the WCHA thread and check out Pgb's "unofficial" three stars of the game. I have to think he will include one of your players in that after this one! Oh, and it's unfortunate that you didn't make it down, but many of your fans did. That was one of the better visiting crowds I have seen at the OSU Ice Rink this season. Should be interesting tomorrow. I will be interested in seeing if we step up our game and win in regulation or if Niagara continues their stellar play and earns a split. Hey, thanks for joining us on this thread! We're still looking for our first-ever NCAA Tournament bid. That's tough to do when you're in the same league as Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota-Duluth, not to mention North Dakota and those doggone Lamoreux twins. Enjoy tomorrow's game. I'll be on here when we get home to chat about what I saw. Take care PurpleEagles, and good luck this season!

Ha.... Yeah, I didn't think your team was playing up to par. As I mentioned a few days back, a tie out of the weekend would be a successful weekend (as it is considered a tie in the CHA standing).

As for the WCHA, best league league period. Thanks! Best of luck to you too