Eric Boggs
In a performance befitting a champion, sophomore Joy Dunne propelled Ohio State women’s hockey to yet another national title game with a dominant third-period display. Dunne’s two-goal outburst in just five minutes broke a tense 2-2 tie and secured a 4-2 victory over Cornell in the Frozen Four semifinals, sending the Buckeyes to their fourth consecutive NCAA championship game. With a chance to claim back-to-back national titles and their third in four years, Ohio State will now face Wisconsin in what promises to be another epic showdown.
Dunne wasn’t just the hero on the scoreboard—she also contributed an assist, bringing her point total to three for the game. Her linemate, Makenna Webster, matched that output with a goal and two assists, while freshman defender Brooke Disher added another goal to help build Ohio State’s early lead. In net, Amanda Thiele proved her championship pedigree once again, stopping 27 of 29 shots to backstop the Buckeyes to victory.
Ohio State wasted no time asserting its dominance. Less than three minutes into the game, Webster capitalized on a Cornell turnover, finishing her own rebound past Big Red goalie Annelies Bergmann for a 1-0 lead. The Buckeyes doubled their advantage just four minutes later when Jenna Buglioni found Disher at the left circle, and the defender blasted a one-timer past Bergmann to make it 2-0. Ohio State controlled play throughout the opening period, outshooting Cornell 15-6 and killing off several power plays, including a crucial 5-on-3 stretch.
Cornell, however, refused to go quietly. Midway through the second period, Lily Delianedis scored while falling to the ice, and just over a minute later, Kaitlin Jockims picked her spot in the upper-right corner to bring the Big Red level. The Buckeyes suddenly found themselves in a battle, with the score knotted 2-2 entering the third.
That’s when Dunne took over. At the 16:23 mark, after relentless offensive zone pressure, she fired a pinpoint shot into the top corner off feeds from Webster and defender Mira Jungaker to reclaim the lead for Ohio State. Four minutes later, she delivered the finishing blow, diving to redirect the puck past Bergmann for her second goal of the night. The Buckeyes’ suffocating forecheck sealed the deal, stifling Cornell’s late-game push to secure the 4-2 victory.
Ohio State outshot Cornell 39-29 and showcased why they are the defending champions, dictating play and capitalizing on key moments. Dunne was a force throughout, leading all players with nine shots, and extended her goal streak to nine consecutive games, bringing her season total to a team-leading 28.
Head coach Nadine Muzerall, now in her ninth season at the helm, continues to cement her legacy, improving to 12-3 in NCAA Tournament play while boasting an impressive 224-80-22 career record. Thiele also added to her postseason resume, pushing her NCAA Tournament record to 7-1.
With this victory, Ohio State sets up a rematch with No. 1 Wisconsin in the national championship game—a battle that has become a defining rivalry in women’s college hockey. The Buckeyes claimed the crown in 2022, while the Badgers took the title in 2023. Now, the rubber match looms, with the puck set to drop at 4 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU. For Ohio State, the mission is clear: defend the throne and bring another championship back to Columbus.
