Eric Boggs
The No. 2 Ohio State women’s hockey team wrapped up the 2024-25 regular season in dominant fashion, securing a weekend sweep over No. 11/10 St. Cloud State at the OSU Ice Rink. The Buckeyes finished the regular season with a 25-6-3 overall record and a 19-6-3 mark in WCHA play, cementing their status as the No. 2 seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
Friday’s series opener set the tone for an emotional and hard-fought weekend. Before the game, graduate forwards Jenna Buglioni and Makenna Webster energized the sold-out crowd by performing the national anthem—Buglioni singing while Webster signed. That energy carried onto the ice, as Webster wasted no time putting the Buckeyes on the board at 3:42 of the first period, assisted by Buglioni and Brooke Disher. Later in the period, Ohio State capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play, with Joy Dunne extending the lead at 16:35 off assists from Buglioni and Mira Jungåker.
The Buckeyes maintained their advantage heading into the second period, thanks to goaltender Amanda Thiele’s six crucial saves, including two on breakaway attempts. Early in the middle frame, Jocelyn Amos pushed Ohio State’s lead to three at 3:08, but St. Cloud State responded with a goal at 15:39 to keep the Buckeyes’ lead at two. Thiele continued her strong performance with four more saves in the period.
The Huskies made a push in the third, netting two quick goals in the first ten minutes to tie the game at 3-3. However, Ohio State answered with resilience. Amos delivered the game-winning goal on a power play at 8:42 before securing the victory with an empty-net tally in the final minute, sealing a 5-3 win for the Buckeyes. Amos recorded a hat trick, her second of the season, and Dunne matched her with three points. Thiele made 13 saves in the victory, improving to 15-5-2.
Returning to the ice on Saturday, the Buckeyes celebrated Senior Day by honoring their 2025 class, which included forwards Buglioni, Webster, Maddi Wheeler, and Kiara Zanon, defenders Riley Brengman and Emily Zumwinkle, and goaltender Thiele. The team quickly channeled that emotion into a strong start, racing to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Dunne showcased her skill, skating the puck from deep in the defensive zone and beating St. Cloud State goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö at 10:42. Brengman followed up with a shorthanded goal at 14:33—her first career shorthanded tally—to double the Buckeyes’ advantage.
St. Cloud State fought back, cutting the deficit with a goal at 15:19 of the second period and then equalizing at 15:22 of the third, setting up a dramatic finish. With just over two minutes remaining in regulation, Webster delivered in the clutch, redirecting a shot from Jungåker past Kyrkkö to secure a thrilling 3-2 win for Ohio State. Thiele stood tall once again, making 14 saves en route to her 16th victory of the season, tying her for ninth in program history for single-season wins.
With the series sweep, the Buckeyes officially clinched second place in the WCHA standings and head into the postseason with momentum. They will face St. Thomas in a best-of-three WCHA First Round series next weekend, with games scheduled for Friday, Feb. 28, Saturday, March 1, and Sunday, March 2 (if necessary). The winner will advance to the 2025 WCHA Final Faceoff in Duluth, Minn., on March 8-9.
As Ohio State shifts its focus to the playoffs, the team’s depth, resilience, and leadership—exemplified by standout performances from Amos, Webster, and Thiele—have them poised for a deep postseason run. Buckeye Nation will be eagerly watching as they chase conference and national glory.
