Ohio State
28-6-0
Wisconsin (WCHA Final Faceoff Semifinals) **
25-7-4
Ohio State To Play for WCHA Final Faceoff Title
3/5/2022 9:27:15 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
Box Score | Schedule | Roster | Season Stats
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 2 Ohio State women’s hockey team is headed to the 2022 Final Faceoff championship game. The second-seeded Buckeyes (28-6-0, 21-6-0 WCHA) defeated the No. 3 seed Wisconsin Badgers, 2-1, on Saturday evening at Ridder Arena to secure a spot in Sunday’s championship game.
How it Happened
Following a scoreless first period, the Badgers were first on the board with a goal at 1:07 into the second frame. This would be the only goal the Buckeyes would allow Wisconsin to score thanks to a 33-save performance from sophomore goaltender Amanda Thiele.
Ohio State captain Liz Schepers tied it up for the Buckeyes at 5:16 in the second period. Schepers and Paetyn Levis found themselves in a two-on-one situation in the Badgers defensive zone and connected on the give-and-go to put the Buckeyes on the board.
Senior Gabby Rosenthal put one past Wisconsin’s Kennedy Blair to give the Buckeyes the lead at 8:11. She recovered the puck off the wall in the Badgers’ territory, skating to the slot and finishing stick-side high to net the game-winner for Ohio State.
Game Notes
- With the win, Ohio State advances to the Final Faceoff title game for the third year in a row. This year’s championship matchup marks the fourth time the Buckeyes will play in the WCHA championship game (2001, 2020, 2021, 2022).
- Levis’ assist on Scheper’s goal is her eighth point of the postseason. She now holds the Ohio State record for single-season postseason points. The senior has recorded 49 points this season for the Buckeyes.
- Scoring the first goal of the day, Schepers brings her career postseason point total to 15 to set the Buckeye record in career postseason points. The Mound, Minn. native has tallied 45 points this year. Her 63 career goals are the sixth-most in program history.
- Sophie Jaques added an assist on Rosenthal’s game-winning goal to tally her 55th point of the year. She is now in sole control of second place in single-season points by a Buckeye all-time.
- Ohio State finished 3-for-3 on the penalty kill against Wisconsin. The Buckeyes’ penalty kill improves to .929 this season.
- Thiele’s 33 saves are the second most she’s made on the season. She has now tallied 375 saves this season and has surpassed 400 for her career (428).
Statistically Speaking
Shots: Wisconsin 34, Ohio State 18
Saves: Ohio State (Thiele) 33, Wisconsin (Blair) 16
Power Play: Ohio State 0-0, Wisconsin 0-3
Faceoffs: Wisconsin 29, Ohio State 26
Ohio State Scoring: Schepers (1-0-1), Rosenthal (1-0-1), Levis (0-1-1), Jaques (0-1-1)
Up Next
Ohio State will face Minnesota tomorrow, Sunday, March 6 at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET in the WCHA Final Faceoff Championship game. The game will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).
#GoBucks
