Eric Boggs
The No. 2 Ohio State women’s hockey team rebounded in dominant fashion Saturday night, securing a commanding 7-3 victory over No. 3 Minnesota at Ridder Arena. After falling 3-1 in Friday’s series opener, the Buckeyes stormed back to not only split the weekend but also pull even with the Gophers in the WCHA standings with 48 points apiece.
Minnesota struck first, taking an early lead less than two minutes into the game, but the Buckeyes never wavered. Junior forward Sloane Matthews took control, ensuring that every Minnesota goal was met with an immediate response. Matthews ignited Ohio State’s offense just over a minute into the second period, knotting the score at one. When the Gophers regained the lead on a power-play goal at 6:07, Matthews needed just over a minute to bury the equalizer. Even after Minnesota went up 3-2 late in the second, Matthews was relentless, completing her hat trick with 50 seconds remaining in the period to send the game into the final frame tied at three.
From there, Ohio State took complete control. Freshman defender Mira Jungåker wasted no time, netting her first career power-play goal just 33 seconds into the third period to give the Buckeyes their first lead of the game. That momentum carried through as Jocelyn Amos and Emma Peschel capitalized on power-play opportunities just 37 seconds apart, stretching the lead to 6-3. The Buckeyes’ special teams dominance was a key storyline, as they became the first team in over a decade to score three power-play goals against Minnesota.
The Gophers appeared to cut the deficit back to two with 11:23 left in regulation, but Ohio State successfully challenged for offsides, wiping the goal off the board. Kiara Zanon put the finishing touches on the statement victory, netting the Buckeyes’ seventh goal with under three minutes to play.
Goaltenders Hailey MacLeod and Amanda Thiele split duties in net, with MacLeod stopping 19 shots through two periods before Thiele took over in the third, making 11 saves to seal the win. Matthews’ second-period hat trick was the first of her career and the second for the Buckeyes this season. Meanwhile, Jennifer Webster tallied a season-best three assists, extending her point streak to six games.
Ohio State’s offensive explosion marked the most goals allowed by Minnesota in a single game since the Buckeyes’ 7-0 rout at Ridder Arena earlier this season on Jan. 12. The win secured a 2-1-1 season series victory over the Gophers, reinforcing Ohio State’s dominance in the rivalry.
The weekend began with a hard-fought battle Friday night that saw Ohio State come up short in a 3-1 loss. The game remained scoreless through two periods, thanks in large part to Thiele’s key early saves and a strong defensive effort. Ohio State outshot Minnesota 15-6 in the second period but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Minnesota finally broke through just over a minute into the third on the power play, sparking a stretch in which they netted three goals in eight minutes. Head coach Nadine Muzerall pulled Thiele for an extra skater with under five minutes left, and it paid off when Emily Zumwinkle, a Minnesota transfer, scored against her former team with 2:01 left in regulation. However, despite a final push with six skaters on the ice, the Buckeyes couldn’t close the gap further.
With the series split, Ohio State turns its attention to the final stretch of the regular season. The Buckeyes return home to face St. Thomas and St. Cloud State at the OSU Ice Rink, looking to carry their offensive firepower and defensive resilience into the postseason push.
