Michigan State University
Ohio State
Spartans Swept at OSU
11/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 8, 2008
Columbus, Ohio - Michigan State suffered a sweep at the hands of clustermate Ohio State, falling 3-1 to the Buckeyes on Saturday evening in Columbus. MSU falls to 4-4-2 on the season, 2-2-2-2 in conference play. Matt Schepke had the goal for MSU, while Jeff Lerg made 20 saves.
The teams were scoreless until the third frame, when the teams traded tallies 17 seconds apart. Ohio State got on the board first, when sophomore Peter Boyd walked into the left circle off the half-wall and fired a shot that beat Jeff Lerg stick-side. Michigan State countered at 6:30, when Matt Schepke forced a turnover in front of the Ohio State net and redirected it past freshman netminder Dustin Carlson for his third goal of the season.
Zac Dalpe put the Buckeyes ahead at 11:44, when he was fed the puck by Mathieu Picard after an MSU turnover behind the net, and Dalpe potted his team-best fifth goal of the season.
MSU had some chances over the balance of the game - both Tim Buttery and Corey Tropp had chances on the power play with just over seven minutes remaining. In the final minutes, Daultan Leveille's shot went right through the crease, and Kurt Kivisto had a shot ricochet off the far post with just over a minute on the clock.
With Jeff Lerg pulled in favor of an extra skater for the final minute of play, Dalpe potted an empty-netter to seal the victory for Ohio State.
Michigan State returns to action next weekend when it hosts Miami at Munn Arena.
NOTES: The Spartans were swept by the Buckeyes for the first time since the 2003-04 season (5-0, 4-1) ... Matt Schepke's goal in the third period of Saturday's game snapped MSU's scoreless streak at 116:21, dating back to last Saturday's shootout win at Western Michigan. It also kept MSU from being shut out in back-to-back games in the same season for the first time in school history .. Schepke is now tied for the team lead in goals (3) ...
