Sports
Ohio completes series sweep over Toledo with its 6-0 victory
By: Audrey Paquette
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio (20-8-2) earned a series sweep over Toledo (6-14-1) with its 6-0 win at Bird Arena on Saturday night.
On Friday night, the Bobcats were firing goals from all areas of the ice in the offensive zone and took down the Rockets 10-2. Ohio had 60 shots on goal while Toledo only had 31. This trend continued into Saturday night, as well as some roughness.
The game started slow, both teams couldn’t find the net. Dealing with offsides calls and facing Toledo’s defense were a couple of factors why Ohio couldn’t score in the first period.
Toledo earned two power plays in the first, but Ohio goalie Garrett Alderman was not letting anything past him. Head coach Lionel Mauron talks about the impact Alderman has had in the net for Ohio.
“I think he’s doing a great job,” Mauron said. “Last year, when he came in as a freshman, he didn’t get a lot of chances to show what he could do, but this year every game he has played, he’s been really good.”
Alderman finished the night by facing 21 shots on goal and earned his second shutout of the season.
“Not being able to let in any goals the past two games, is very nice, and playing hockey again and good hockey. I’m really excited about that,” Alderman said.
Ohio had nine penalty kills and Alderman is appreciative of the guys in front of him who helped stop Toledo from scoring during that time.
“Their power play maybe had two shots on goal the entire game and even yesterday our kills did a good job, so I’m really proud of those guys for soaking a lot of shots for me,” Alderman said.
The second period began, and shortly into the period, Ohio earned a power play. Noah Holt took advantage and found the back of the net for Ohio’s first goal of the night.
Not even a minute later, Laker Aldridge shot the puck at Toledo goaltender Vince Michelizzi, and the horns were blaring again in Bird Arena. However, the Bobcats really got things going in the third period.
“In the third, we really turned it up, and I think it was just getting back to basics of our game,” Mauron said. “Our forecheck is a strength, and our physicality is a strength. We didn’t use that in the first 40 minutes, and I think that’s what really changed in the third.”
Twenty-two seconds into the third, Holt earned his second goal of the night. Not only did Holt score twice, but he also assisted Ovaert twice. The other goal in the third period was scored by Andrew Sacca. Ohio ended the game with 54 shots on goal, while Toledo only had 21.
“The difference between the first 40 and the last 20 is really these players starting to play to their strength, which is speed and physicality,” Mauron said. “So they really turned the game around for us which is great.”
Ohio will look to add to its five-game win streak when it returns to Bird Arena on Jan. 26 against Maryville.