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Ohio State and coach Jackie Barto have announced their 2008-09 hockey schedule

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Ohio State Sets 2008-09 Women's Hockey Schedule

Buckeyes face half the field from 2008 NCAA tournament, celebrate programs' 10th anniversary

May 30, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State women's hockey team will once again face a challenging schedule for the 2008-09 season, head coach Jackie Barto announced on May 29. The Buckeyes, who will be celebrating their 10th season, will take on four of eight teams from the 2008 NCAA tournament field during the 34-game regular season, as well as an exhibition game against the U.S. Women's Select Team.

After a tune-up exhibition against Wilfrid Laurier Sept. 26 at the OSU Ice Rink, the Buckeyes will open the season with a non-conference road series at Providence College, Oct. 3-4. The Friars, alma mater of Barto and assistant coaches Catherine Hanson and Katie Lachapelle, finished third in the Hockey East Conference last season.

Ohio State jumps right into Western Collegiate Hockey Association action, facing two of the top teams in the conference in back-to-back series. The Buckeyes' home-opener will be against Wisconsin, who appeared in the NCAA title game last season, Oct. 10-11. Ohio State will then travel to Minneapolis to play Minnesota the following week. The Buckeyes return to Columbus to host a conference series with Bemidji State, Oct. 24-25, before hitting the road for four of their next five series.

The team opens November with consecutive WCHA road series to North Dakota and St. Cloud State. Ohio State then hosts 2008 NCAA Champion Minnesota Duluth at the OSU Ice Rink, Nov. 14-15. After a weekend off, the Buckeyes travel to St. Lawrence for a non-conference series, Nov. 28-29. It will be a tough series against the Saints, who have appeared in the last five NCAA tournaments, and the first meeting between OSU and SLU since the 2002-03 season.

Ohio State has a single series in December, taking on Minnesota State, Dec. 12-13 in Mankato, Minn. The team will conclude the first half of their season with an exhibition game against the U.S. Women's Select Team, which includes two former Buckeyes in Erin Keys and Lisa Chesson, Dec. 14 in Blaine, Minn.

After spending much of the first half on the road, the Buckeyes will begin their second half of the schedule with three-consecutive home series. OSU opens with its first meeting with Boston University, Jan. 2-3, in the final non-conference series for the Buckeyes. The Terriers tied with Providence for third in the Hockey East Conference. The Buckeyes face Minnesota (Jan. 9-10) and St. Cloud State (Jan. 16-17), before hitting the road for back-to-back away series at Bemidji State (Jan. 23-24) and Wisconsin (Jan. 31-Feb. 1). Ohio State closes out the regular season with home series against North Dakota (Feb. 6-7) and Minnesota State (Feb. 20-21), sandwiched between a road series at Minnesota Duluth.

Postseason play begins the weekend of Feb. 27 with the First Round WCHA Playoffs. The higher seed team will host the best-of-three series. Winners will advance to Minneapolis for the WCHA Final Faceoff Championship, March 7-8. The NCAA tournament starts with regionals March 13 and 14 at the higher seed site. The NCAA Women's Frozen Four will take place March 20 and 22 at Agganis Arena on the campus of Boston University.

2008-09 Ohio State OSU Women's Hockey Schedule

SEPTEMBER

26	WILFRID LAURIER (Exhib.)	7:07 p.m.

OCTOBER
3	at Providence	7 p.m.
4	at Providence	4 p.m.
10	WISCONSIN *	7:07 p.m.
11	WISCONSIN *	7:07 p.m.
17	at Minnesota *	7:07 p.m.
18	at Minnesota *	4:07 p.m.
24	BEMIDJI STATE *	7:07 p.m.
25	BEMIDJI STATE *	1:07 p.m.

NOVEMBER
1	at North Dakota *	12:07 p.m.
2	at North Dakota *	12:07 p.m.
8	at St. Cloud State *	2:07 p.m.
9	at St. Cloud State *	1:07 p.m.
14	MINNESOTA DULUTH *	7:07 p.m.
15	MINNESOTA DULUTH *	4:07 p.m.
28	at St. Lawrence	4 p.m.
29	at St. Lawrence	1 p.m.

DECEMBER
12	at Minnesota State *	7:07 p.m.
13	at Minnesota State *	3:07 p.m.
14	vs. U.S. Women's Select Team (Exhib.)	10 a.m.

JANUARY
2	BOSTON UNIVERSITY	7:07 p.m.
3	BOSTON UNIVERSITY	4:07 p.m.
9	MINNESOTA *	7:07 p.m.
10	MINNESOTA *	4:07 p.m.
16	ST. CLOUD STATE *	7:07 p.m.
17	ST. CLOUD STATE *	2:07 p.m.
23	at Bemidji State *	7:07 p.m.
24	at Bemidji State *	2:07 p.m.
31	at Wisconsin *	2:07 p.m.

FEBRUARY
1	at Wisconsin *	1:07 p.m.
6	NORTH DAKOTA *	7:07 p.m.
7	NORTH DAKOTA *	4:07 p.m.
13	at Minnesota Duluth *	7:07 p.m.
14	at Minnesota Duluth *	7:07 p.m.
20	MINNESOTA STATE *	7:07 p.m.
21	MINNESOTA STATE *	4:07 p.m.
27-1	First Round WCHA Playoffs 1	TBA

MARCH
7, 8	2009 WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF Championship 2	TBA
13, 14	NCAA Regionals 1	TBA
20, 22	NCAA Women's Frozen Four 3	TBA

* - Western Collegiate Hockey Association game
1 - at higher seed
2 - at University of Minnesota, Ridder Arena
3 - at Boston University, Agganis Arena