Additional Info: Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State missed out on back-to-back NCAA championships in women’s hockey Sunday as the Wisconsin Badgers won their record seventh national title with a 1-0 victory over the Buckeyes at Amsoil Arena in Duluth, Minn.
Ohio State, the No. 1 team in the nation all season long save for one week with the No. 2 offense in the country, had trouble generating good scoring opportunities all game and were shut out for the first time all season and the first time in 57 games. Ohio State had 31 shots on goal and the Badgers had 21.
Wisconsin scored the only goal of the game just over 14 minutes into the game as Kirsten Simms scored on a hard shot to the right of Ohio State goalie Amanda Thiele.
Ohio State finishes the season with a 33-6-2 record while Wisconsin finishes 29-10-2.
How it Happened – 1st Period
The game started with a defensive posture as neither team was able to get any good looks on goal early, but by 14 minutes into the period the Buckeyes were heating up with eight shots on goal – including three on the power play – against just four for the Badgers. Wisconsin, however, scored first as Kirsten Simms beat Thiele stick side for the goal with 6:32 left in the period.
An Ohio State penalty with 1:37 to go in the period gave Wisconsin a chance to add to the lead. The best opportunity to score, though, came when the Buckeyes’ Paetyn Levis blocked a shot near the blue line and used breakaway speed to chase down and skate in on Kronish with two Badgers right on her backside. Her shot went high and the period ended with the Badgers up, 1-0. Ohio State had 16 shots on goal for the period compared to five for the Badgers.
2nd Period
Thiele kept the Badgers out of the net with 10 saves in the period, including a couple off shots from point blank range early in the period and a beauty of a pad save with 1:40 to play in the period off a laser by Caroline Harvey. The Badgers had the Buckeyes back on their skates early, but after a timeout midway through the period, the Buckeyes started buzzing. Jenna Buglioni, who had five previous shots on goal, had a fine opportunity from just inside the circle and to Kronish’s left but her shot was high. Wisconsin ended the period strong with nearly 90 seconds of pressure. Thiele was stronger, and she kept it a one-goal game.
3rd Period
Wisconsin went on the power play with 15:35 to play but Ohio State killed off the penalty with Thiele making two huge saves in the process. At 12:15 Ohio State had a terrific opportunity to tie the game as Buglioni slid a pass over to Levis who couldn’t elevate her shot and Kronish was able to get enough of her left pad on the puck to deflect it wide. With three minutes to play Kronish made a glove save off a Madison Bizal shot, the puck fell to the ice but no Buckeye could get a stick on the puck. Ohio State pulled Thiele with 1:14 left to play but could not get the equalizer.
Game Notes
Statistically Speaking
Shots: Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 22
Saves: Ohio State (Thiele) 21, Wisconsin (Kronish) 31
Power Play: Ohio State 0-1, Wisconsin 0-3
Faceoffs: Ohio State 29, Wisconsin 25
#GoBucks
