COLUMBUS, Ohio (GopherSports.com) – Six points from the sophomore class weren’t enough as the No. 15 Gopher Hockey program settled for a split with Ohio State on Saturday night, falling by a 5-2 margin in the series finale at Value Center Arena.

Saturday’s series finale – Minnesota’s final regular-season road game of the year – saw three lead changes before the Buckeyes added a pair of empty-net goals to seal the win.

 

While the senior class shined in Friday’s 4-2 win, the sophomores took over on Saturday with all six points on the night for the Maroon & Gold. Taylor Cammarata and Justin Kloos tallied two points each for Minnesota (19-12-3 overall, 10-5-3-0 Big Ten).

After Nick Schilkey’s goal for OSU in the first, the sophomore line of Cammarata, Kloos and Vinni Lettieri rattled off a pair of goals in less than three minutes to take a lead for Minnesota. Cammarata found the net for his third of the year when his centering attempt deflected into the net at 2:23 of the period on a setup up from sophomore defenseman Michael Brodzinski and Kloos. Kloos and Cammarata then turned around and set up Lettieri at 5:09 for the forward’s seventh goal of the year – a tip in right in front of the net.

Ohio State then took its turn to even things up soon after when Matt Johnson found the net at 8:07 of the second period during a delayed penalty on the Gophers. Craig Dalrymple reclaimed the lead for Ohio State at 5:42 of the third period when he slid a shot through from the point and Anthony Greco and Tanner Fritz each added empty netters for the Buckeyes at 18:58 and 19:32, respectively.

Adam Wilcox made 27 saves in the loss for Minnesota, moving to 18-11-3 on the year while Christian Frey made 22 saves to move to 8-11-1 on the year.

Ohio State outshot the Gophers 32-24 on the night while Minnesota went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and 0-for-2 on the power play.

The Gophers return to Big Ten action next weekend at Mariucci Arena for the regular-season finale against Penn State.

More From KOLM - 1520 The Ticket