Eric Boggs
The No. 2 Ohio State women’s hockey team showcased their dominance with a commanding sweep of Bemidji State in a two-game series at the OSU Ice Rink. The Buckeyes improved to 15-5-3 overall and 10-5-3 in WCHA play with consecutive shutout victories of 6-0 and 4-0, displaying both offensive firepower and defensive precision.
In the first game, Ohio State cruised to a 6-0 win, marking their first home appearance in 54 days. Maddi Wheeler opened the scoring late in the first period, earning her 100th career point in the process. Sophomore Jocelyn Amos delivered an unforgettable performance with four goals, including three on the power play, tying a program record set in 2001 by Emma Laaksonen. Jordyn Petrie added a third-period goal, while goaltender Amanda Thiele stopped all 16 shots she faced for her first shutout of the season. Freshman Mira Jungåker tallied her first collegiate points with two assists, contributing to the Buckeyes’ best power-play showing of the season, going three-for-five.
The momentum carried into the second game, where Ohio State secured a 4-0 victory. Special teams continued to shine as the Buckeyes scored three of their four goals on the power play. Jenna Buglioni opened the scoring five minutes into the first period, reaching her 150th career point and becoming just the sixth Buckeye to achieve this milestone. Makenna Webster contributed an even-strength goal in the second period, while Joy Dunne and Emily Zumwinkle added power-play goals to round out the scoring. Zumwinkle’s goal was her first in an Ohio State uniform. Junior goaltender Hailey MacLeod earned her third shutout of the season, making 14 saves as the Buckeyes limited Bemidji State to just 14 shots on goal.
Across the weekend, Amos led the team with seven points, including her remarkable four-goal performance on Friday and three assists on Saturday. The Buckeyes went six-for-ten on the power play, boosting their season power-play percentage to .246. The back-to-back shutouts marked the first time since January 2024 that Ohio State achieved consecutive shutouts in a series. Additional highlights included milestones for Maddi Wheeler and Jenna Buglioni, as well as Amanda Thiele’s first point of the season with an assist. Ohio State’s defense was stellar, allowing just 30 total shots across both games.
Next, the Buckeyes will travel to Duluth, Minnesota, for a two-game series against Minnesota Duluth on January 17-18 at AMSOIL Arena. With puck drops scheduled for 7 p.m. and 4 p.m., Ohio State looks to continue their impressive form and solidify their standing in the WCHA.
