Eric Boggs
The Ohio State women’s hockey team is heading back to the NCAA Frozen Four for the fifth consecutive season after an emphatic 6-1 victory over St. Lawrence in the regional final at the OSU Ice Rink. The No. 2-seeded Buckeyes (28-7-3, 19-6-3 WCHA) showcased their championship pedigree, storming back from an early deficit to dismantle the Saints and continue their quest for back-to-back national titles.
St. Lawrence struck first, taking advantage of an Ohio State penalty to grab a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal from Aly McLeod at 6:26 in the first period. However, the lead was short-lived as the Buckeyes responded with a relentless offensive attack. Just over seven minutes later, Sloane Matthews netted the equalizer on a 4-on-4 rush, finishing a slick setup from Makenna Webster. The momentum continued in Ohio State’s favor when Joy Dunne capitalized on a rebound with 1:14 left in the opening frame, giving the Buckeyes a 2-1 advantage.
Despite Ohio State dominating the second period, outshooting St. Lawrence 22-1, Saints goaltender Emma-Sofie Nordström stood tall, keeping her team within striking distance. However, the Buckeyes’ offensive firepower proved too much in the final frame. With just under nine minutes to play, Jocelyn Amos extended the lead to 3-1, sparking an avalanche of scoring. Webster struck two minutes later, further cementing Ohio State’s control. St. Lawrence pulled Nordström in a desperate attempt to close the gap, but Dunne made them pay, scoring on the empty net with 2:22 remaining. Jordyn Petrie added the final dagger with 14 seconds left, sealing the 6-1 victory.
Ohio State’s commanding performance was fueled by Dunne’s historic night, as she became the first Buckeye to record multiple goals in an NCAA tournament game while also setting a program record for most points in a single tournament contest. Goaltender Amanda Thiele, now 6-1 in NCAA tournament play, was steady in net, turning aside 13 shots while the Buckeyes fired 49 shots on goal. Ohio State dominated the faceoff circle as well, winning 35 draws compared to St. Lawrence’s 19.
The victory sends the Buckeyes to their sixth Frozen Four appearance—all under head coach Nadine Muzerall’s leadership. Muzerall, already the architect of Ohio State’s two national championships in 2022 and 2024, is confident in her team’s ability to repeat as champions.
“I’m just really excited for what next week will look like if they play the way they did tonight,” Muzerall said. “I feel confident that they’re going to have a very good chance of winning it all. It’s hard to get there, and it’s hard to win, but this group has what it takes.”
Up next, Ohio State faces No. 3-seed Cornell in the Frozen Four semifinals on Friday, March 21, in Minneapolis. The Buckeyes defeated the Big Red 7-3 earlier this season in the Women’s Ice Breaker Tournament championship, setting the stage for a compelling rematch. The other semifinal features top-seeded Wisconsin against No. 4 Minnesota, potentially setting up a third straight national championship showdown between Ohio State and its WCHA rival.
Should the Buckeyes advance, they will compete for their third national title in four years on Sunday, March 23. With an offense firing on all cylinders and a defense shutting down opponents, Ohio State is poised to add another chapter to its dynasty in the making.
