Columbus, OH (Dec. 11, 2005) Ohio State (9-6-2) scored three goals in the first period to jump out to a decisive lead and held on to hand Union (9-7-2) a 6-1 loss in the two-game series finale at Value City Arena. It was the first time the Dutchmen were swept in a two-game series on the road against the same team since a pair of losses at Colorado College to start the 2004-05 season.   

Ohio State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, outshooting Union 12-4. It was the first time Union has allowed three goals in the opening period since a five-goal outburst by Air Force on October 8.

Sophomore Tom Fritsche struck first for the Buckeyes with his sixth goal of the season at 2:31. Tyson Strachan took a shot from the blue line that was chested by Union goaltender Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, PA). The puck deflected off Mayotte and right to Fritsche who was waiting all alone to tuck it inside the right post. He added two assists on the afternoon for a three-point outing.

Bryce Anderson added the second goal at 11:25 for his second of the year. Mathieu Beeaudoin fed a lead pass to Anderson into the Union zone creating a breakaway opportunity. Anderson converted on the attempt with a high shot into the back of the net.

The Buckeyes third goal came on the power play, with one second left, off the stick of Rod Pelley. Domenic Maiani sent a cross-ice pass to Anderson atop the right face off circle setting him up with a slap shot that beat Mayotte over his left shoulder.

Ohio State extended it lead to four in the second period on Dan Knapp's first goal of the season at 5:50. Maiani, who finished with three assists, set things up again with a shot in front that was saved by Mayotte. The puck hung in the air where it was swatted in by Knapp.

Josh Coyle (Brooklyn, OH) came through for Union, scoring his ninth goal of the season on the power play at 10:55 to make it a 4-1 game. Coyle picked up a rebound in front following a shot from Lane Caffaro (Slave Lake, ALB) and snuck it underneath Ohio State goalie Ian Keserich. The goal was Coyle's third point in as many games after going the previous five without registering a point. Senior Scott Seney (Silver Spring, MD) picked up the second assist to give him a career-high, five-game point streak.   

Matt Waddell regained the four-goal advantage with under a minute to play in the period just as an Ohio State power play expired. He released a shot from the blue line just before Union's Brendan Milnamow (Wilton, CT) closed in from the penalty box. Waddell found the upper right corner of the goal for his second of the season.

Kenny Bernard added a short-handed goal for Ohio State at 16:59.

Ohio State outshot Union 36-31. Keserich (2-1) made 30 saves for the Buckeyes to pick up his second straight win. On the other end Mayotte (9-6-1) also stopped 30 shots for the Dutchmen in his second straight loss. It was Mayotte's fourth, 30-save effort of the season.    

Union will be idle for the next two weeks until they open up the second half of the season at the Dodge Holiday Classic in Minneapolis, MN. The Dutchmen face the host Minnesota Golden Gophers in their first game on Thursday, December 29 at 7:07 p.m.