Eric Boggs
he Ohio State women’s hockey team experienced a weekend of highs and lows against Minnesota State, ultimately splitting the two-game series in Mankato, Minnesota. The Buckeyes, ranked No. 2 in the nation, showcased their resilience with an overtime win Friday before suffering a setback on Saturday.
The Buckeyes (13-3-2, 8-3-2 WCHA) emerged victorious in Friday night’s game with a nail-biting 2-1 overtime win. Sophomore forward Joy Dunne played the hero, scoring the game-winning goal halfway through the extra period. The win highlighted Ohio State’s persistence and ability to execute under pressure.
The first 40 minutes of the game were a defensive stalemate. Despite Ohio State’s offensive efforts, including 24 shots on goal, the Mavericks’ goaltender Hailey Hansen held firm. At the other end, Buckeye netminder Hailey MacLeod made 11 saves to keep Minnesota State off the board.
The deadlock was finally broken early in the third period when Jocelyn Amos scored off a rebound from a Kiara Zanon shot, with Riley Brengman earning the secondary assist. However, Minnesota State managed to tie the game in the final minute of regulation, forcing overtime.
In the extra frame, Dunne capitalized on a fast break, receiving a perfectly timed pass from Zanon before navigating past two defenders and firing a shot past Hansen to seal the win. The goal marked Dunne’s third game-winner of the season and extended her point streak to 10 games.
Ohio State dominated the shot count with 38 to Minnesota State’s 16. Hansen made 36 saves in a valiant effort for the Mavericks, while MacLeod stopped 15 shots for the Buckeyes, improving her record to 3-1-1. Both Brengman and Zanon tallied two assists, continuing their strong offensive contributions.
The series finale on Saturday saw the Buckeyes fall 4-1 to the Mavericks, bringing their overall record to 13-4-2 (8-4-2 WCHA). Despite outshooting Minnesota State 31-12, Ohio State struggled to find the back of the net and was undone by costly mistakes and a strong performance from Hansen. Minnesota State struck first, scoring at 3:17 in the opening period. Although the Buckeyes dominated possession and outshot the Mavericks 7-2 in the frame, they entered the first intermission trailing 1-0.
The second period was scoreless, with goaltender Amanda Thiele making critical saves to keep Ohio State within striking distance. However, the Buckeyes couldn’t capitalize on their eight shots on goal in the period. In the third, Minnesota State extended their lead before Maddi Wheeler responded for Ohio State, scoring her third goal in four games at 8:31 to cut the deficit to one. The Mavericks regained momentum with a late goal at 15:58 and secured the victory with an empty-netter at 18:49.
Ohio State now shifts their focus to a non-conference matchup against Mercyhurst on Monday, Dec. 2, in Erie, Pennsylvania. This game marks the conclusion of their calendar year schedule and the second half of a home-and-home series against the Lakers. The Buckeyes remain a formidable force in the WCHA and will look to carry lessons learned from this series into the second half of the season. Buckeye Nation can be proud of the team’s grit and determination, as they continue their pursuit of excellence on the ice.
