The third period of Saturday’s game was the highlight of MSU’s weekend, as senior forward Matt Schepke scored the lone weekend goal and the Spartans outshot the Buckeyes for the first time.

MSU head coach Rick Comley was disappointed with the weekend’s results, but he thought both games could have gone either way — especially with the Spartans pressing hard at the end of Saturday’s game.

“I thought it was very even,” Comley said. “I thought our third period was probably our most energetic and best period. We had a couple really good chances but we just couldn’t (score).”

Senior goaltender Jeff Lerg stopped 67 shots throughout the weekend, and Comley is aware his team must give Lerg support by scoring goals.

“He did everything he could (this weekend),” Comley said. “But he can’t score for us.”

The first period of Saturday’s game only featured nine total shots — compared to 23 in the first period of Friday’s game.

Comley attributed this to his team’s defensive focus, which was needed after allowing 49 shots Friday.

“We kind of laid back more tonight and tried to keep it tight and set up that way,” Comley said.

The Spartans (4-4-2 overall, 2-2-2-2 CCHA) had their best chance to score in the second period with eight minutes left when the puck bounced around the net and came to freshman forward Andrew Conboy at the top of the left circle. Conboy unleashed a slap shot that was stopped by Ohio State goaltender Dustin Carlson, but he couldn’t get the puck covered up.

Later, the Buckeyes (4-5-1, 3-4-1-1) looked to capitalize on a 2-on-1, but senior forward Kurt Kivisto didn’t give up on the play and was able to come back and lift the stick of the Buckeyes forward right before he got his shot off.

With 13:47 left in the third period, Ohio State’s Peter Boyd stole the puck from a Spartans defenseman at the left boards and beat Lerg on his stick side.

But 17 seconds later, Schepke tipped a pass from senior forward Tim Crowder through a heavy crowd that made its way past Carlson to tie the game.

Ohio State head coach John Markell admitted he made a mistake by not stressing to his team to be immediately prepared for an MSU barrage of offense.

“The mistake we made tonight was the shift after you score a goal you have to make (your team) aware they are going to try and punch back right away,” Markell said.

But that mistake was forgotten when Zac Dalpe retook the lead for Ohio State five minutes later.

Dalpe received a cross-ice pass from the right boards and was wide open at the top of the crease. As soon as the puck hit his stick, he fired it into the net past a sprawling Lerg.

Dalpe scored an empty-net goal with 51 seconds left to secure the win.

“Michigan State responded very well tonight,” Markell said. “They played the prototypical road game they needed to play and almost came away with it.”