For the second time in three years, the Ohio State women’s ice hockey team is national champions. The Buckeyes were able to outlast the Wisconsin Badgers in a 1-0 win in Durham, New Hampshire, on Sunday evening.
The game was one where the goalies and defense owned the day. The first two periods saw both teams button down on defense with little to show in way of offensive chances for teams that knew each other all too well. Then, in the third period, things opened up a bit.
Still, It took until the 7:12 mark of the last period for Ohio State’s leading scorer, Joy Dunne, to fire a shot past Badgers goalie, Ava McNaughton, and put the Buckeyes up 1-0. Things would continue with Wisconsin emptying its net in an attempt to get the extra attacker and get an equalizer, but OSU goalie, Raygan Kirk, continued to shine, adding to her 27 saves for the game and helping the Buckeyes to the title.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AGAIN!!!!#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/1j72RGNpRu
— Ohio State Women's Hockey (@OhioStateWHKY) March 24, 2024
“Very humbled to be sitting here,” said Ohio State coach Nadine Muzerall. “First, congrats to the players and all the hard work they put in throughout the year. Congratulations to Wisconsin. That was one hell of a game. Both teams really battled hard.
“We knew it was going to be a tough challenge because they have so much offensive power. We focused early on their transition side of the game and not giving up odd-man rushes and controlling the neutral zone. We did that very well as we were getting our chances as were they. I was very proud of our defensive side of the game and very proud of the way they punched back after a tough loss the last time we played against Wisconsin. I think it showed a lot of character of not letting that get to them on this high stage.”
For Ohio State, it was the culmination of a team that was ranked No. 1 for most of the season. It was also a little revenge against the Badgers who beat the Buckeyes 2-1 last season in the Frozen Four national title game and also knocked off OSU in this season’s WCHA championship 6-3.
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