Ohio State
31-5-2
Minnesota (WCHA Final Faceoff Championship) **
29-5-3
Ohio State Runner-Up at Final Faceoff; NCAAs Next
3/4/2023 6:14:11 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
Box Score | Schedule | Roster | Season Stats
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 1 Ohio State women’s hockey team lost in the championship game of the Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff, 3-1, to the host Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Buckeyes, 31-5-2 on the season, were vying for a third Final Faceoff championship in the last four years after previously winning in 2020 and 2022.
Minnesota, 29-5-3, led the entire game: 1-0 after the first period and 3-1 after the second when its skaters peppered the Ohio State net with 19 shots in the period compared to nine for the Buckeyes. For the game, Minnesota led in shots on goal, 39-35, and converted on both of its power play opportunities. Ohio State was 0-2 on the power play.
How it Happened
- The first period was fast-paced with neither team showing any affects of the high-caliber games and opponents in the semifinals on Friday. Both teams fired 13 shots on net with Minnesota’s Savannah Norcross scoring the only goal of the period at the 5:05 mark from about 15 feet to Ohio State goalie Amanda Thiele’s left.
- Thiele was being pestered on the play and Ohio State challenged the call for goaltender interference. The play was upheld. Goal Minnesota.
- The first period ended with Minnesota holding the 1-0 lead, but with Buckeye Jen Gardiner being issued a 5-minute major penalty for contact to the head.
- Minnesota played the first five minutes of the second period with the man advantage, but Thiele stopped all six shots during the major, including a couple with plenty of chaos in front of the net, to keep it a one-goal game.
- The Golden Gophers went back on the power play at the 13:09 mark and 40 seconds later the home team led, 2-0, on a low shot by Abbey Murphy to the right of Thiele to make it 2-0.
- Ohio State countered. Makenna Webster charged in on goal with Skylar Vetter making the stop but Gabby Rosenthal pounded home the rebound for her 20th goal of the season to make it a 2-1 game.
- Minnesota came right back to make it a two-goal game. Peyton Hemp scored just 1:02 after Rosenthal’s score to make it a 3-1 game.
- Ohio State held a 13-7 advantage in third period shots, but could not get any closer than the final margin.
Game Notes
- Ohio State has advanced to the WCHA’s Final Faceoff championship game four consecutive seasons (2020-21-22-23) and five times overall.
- Sophie Jaques was the only Buckeye selected to the WCHA Final Faceoff all-tournament team.
Statistically Speaking
Total Shots: Ohio State 75, Minnesota 70
Shots on Goal: Minnesota 39, Ohio State 35
Saves: Minnesota (Vetter) 34, Ohio State (Thiele) 32
Power Play: Minnesota 2-2, Ohio State 0-2
Faceoffs: Minnesota 33, Ohio State 31
Ohio State Scoring: Rosenthal (1-0-1), Webster (0-0-1)
Up Next
The NCAA women’s hockey national championship selection show will be Sunday at 12 noon on ESPNews.
#GoBucks
