The Ohio State women’s ice hockey team will be attempting to follow up its first-ever WCHA regular-season title with a tournament title after advancing to the WCHA Final Faceoff with a 2-1 win over Bemidji State Saturday at the OSU ice rink.
The best-of-three series didn’t need a third game after the Buckeyes took care of business Friday night in a 4-1 victory over Bemidji State. The win moves OSU’s record to an impressive 30-4-2 overall, and a 23-4-1 WCHA mark.
Buy Buckeyes TicketsHere’s how the win unfolded on Saturday:
- Freshman Sloane Matthews got the scoring started for the Buckeyes just 2:00 into the game by finding the back of the net. It was a one-timer by Matthews off of a feed from Kenzie Hauswirth to give OSU the 1-0 lead.
P1 BUCKEYE GOAL! 🚨@sloanematthews strikes first at 2:00! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/3SYispOrY4
— Ohio State Women's Hockey (@OhioStateWHKY) February 25, 2023
- Neither team would score again 16:17 left in the third period when Jenn Gardiner found the back of the net off of assists from Gabby Rosenthal and Sophie Jaques.
P3 BUCKEYE GOAL! 🚨@jenngardiner12 finds the back of the net at 16:17! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/hqEfxa2KH9
— Ohio State Women's Hockey (@OhioStateWHKY) February 25, 2023
- Ohio State goalie Amanda Thiele almost had a clean sheet, making 15 saves on the day but finally allowing a goal with less than three minutes remaining in the game on the last shot she faced. The Buckeyes were able to salt away the last 2:23 of the game to close out the 2-1 victory.
The WCHA Final Faceoff semifinals will begin Friday, March 3, with Ohio State taking on No. 4 seed Minnesota.
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