Eric Boggs
The Ohio State women’s hockey team emerged victorious in a thrilling battle at this season’s Frozen Four semifinals in Durham, New Hampshire, on Friday afternoon. The top-seeded Buckeyes (34-4) clinched a 4-1 win over Clarkson University (33-5-2), marking a historic milestone as they advance to their third consecutive national championship contest.
The game kicked off with Clarkson seizing an early lead, netting the first goal a mere 2 minutes and 25 seconds into the first period. However, Ohio State swiftly responded, with Makenna Webster finding the back of the net at the 13:53 mark, leveling the score at 1-1.
The deadlock persisted until the third period, when the Buckeyes showcased their resilience and determination, scoring three consecutive goals to secure a commanding 4-1 victory. Sloane Matthews, Joy Dunne, and Hadley Hartmetz were the heroes of the hour, each contributing crucial goals to propel Ohio State to victory. Goalie Raygan Kirk was fantastic once again, finishing with 17 saves.
“Wow, what an exhilarating game. That’s playoff hockey at its finest. A lot of credit to Clarkson. What a fantastic defensive side of the game that they have. Brilliant goaltending, a lot of credit to her. We felt like we were making pushes, but just not capitalizing in the tight spaces around the net… We had to change the mindset of not playing afraid to lose and play to win and represent all the work they had all year. So very proud to get to the final championship game on Sunday.”
Head Coach Nadine Muzerall
Looking ahead, the Buckeyes are poised for a rematch against conference rival Wisconsin in the national championship game. Wisconsin secured victory over Ohio State in last season’s championship clash, edging out a 1-0 win. Moreover, the Badgers dealt a blow to the Buckeyes in the recent WCHA tournament championship game, prevailing 6-3.
Ohio State is well aware of the challenge that lies ahead, particularly considering their two-game losing streak against Wisconsin this season. However, with a record of 3-2 against the Badgers overall this year, the Buckeyes remain undaunted as they prepare to vie for redemption.
Puck drop for the highly anticipated National Championship game is set for 4 p.m. tomorrow evening, with fans eagerly anticipating the showdown, which will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
