Ohio State Women's Hockey

The No. 2 Ohio State women’s hockey team suffered a tough 6-2 loss to No. 4 Minnesota in the WCHA Final Faceoff semifinals on Friday night at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn. Despite a strong start, the Buckeyes (27-7-3, 19-6-3 WCHA) saw their early two-goal lead slip away as the Gophers capitalized on key opportunities to secure the win.

Ohio State wasted no time getting on the board, striking early with a goal from Jocelyn Amos just 2:04 into the first period. Assisted by Joy Dunne and Emma Peschel, Amos extended her point streak to eight games. Dunne continued her stellar season, adding a goal of her own at 9:23, assisted by Makenna Webster and Sara Swiderski, giving the Buckeyes a 2-0 advantage.

However, Minnesota responded with a pair of power-play goals late in the opening period. Abbey Murphy cut the Buckeyes’ lead in half at 14:05, netting her 100th career goal, and Ella Huber tied the game with just over a minute remaining in the period. The momentum had shifted, and Minnesota took full control from there.

XSport20Off

Audrey Wethington scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period, followed shortly by Ava Lindsay to extend the Gophers’ lead to 4-2. Murphy struck again in the third, and Chloe Primerano sealed the game with an empty-net goal, completing a six-goal unanswered run for Minnesota.

Despite being outscored, Ohio State held the advantage in shots on goal, outshooting the Gophers 24-21. However, Minnesota’s goaltender, Hannah Clark, was outstanding between the pipes, stopping 22 of 24 shots. On the other end, Ohio State’s Amanda Thiele recorded 15 saves on 20 shots. Special teams played a pivotal role in the contest, as the Gophers capitalized on two of their four power-play opportunities, while the Buckeyes were unable to convert on any of their three chances.

With their WCHA tournament run coming to an end, the Buckeyes now shift their focus to the NCAA tournament. Their seed and opponent will be revealed during the selection show on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET, airing on ESPNU and ESPN+.

Despite the setback, Ohio State received positive news as sophomore forward Joy Dunne was named a top-10 finalist for the prestigious 2025 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, recognizing the top player in NCAA Division I women’s hockey. Dunne has been a key force for the Buckeyes, leading the team with a career-high 52 points on 23 goals and 29 assists. She ranks among the nation’s top 10 in multiple offensive categories and has recorded multi-point performances in 17 games this season.

Off the ice, Dunne has demonstrated excellence in academics and community service. She is a WCHA All-Academic Team and Scholar-Athlete honoree, pursuing a degree in social work while volunteering with the Dream Center in Columbus. Dunne becomes Ohio State’s ninth player to be named a top-10 finalist for the award and the first since 2023.

While the loss to Minnesota was disappointing, Ohio State remains a strong contender in the NCAA tournament. With a talented roster led by Dunne, Amos, and a deep core of playmakers, the Buckeyes will look to regroup and make a deep postseason run as they chase a national championship.