No. 4/5 Buckeyes Defeat No. 2 Gophers for Muzerall’s 200th Win

Friday, October 11

Columbus, Ohio

6 p.m.

Ohio State

5-2-0, 3-2-0

Minnesota

4-1-0, 0-1-0

Minnesota

Ohio St.

No. 4/5 Buckeyes Defeat No. 2 Gophers for Muzerall’s 200th Win

10/11/2024 10:55:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Friday night at the OSU Ice Rink was full of celebration as the No. 4/5 Ohio State women's hockey team defeated No. 2 Minnesota, 4-3, after recognizing the 2024 national championship team prior to puck drop with a ring presentation and banner drop.

The Buckeyes (5-2-0, 3-2-0 WCHA) earned the win over the Gophers (4-1-0, 0-1-0 WCHA) in front of a home crowd that included former players from every year of head coach Nadine Muzerall's tenure at Ohio State to celebrate her 200th career win.

How it Happened

Ohio State struck first and early with a goal from Joy Dunne at 3:28 into the game. Jenna Buglioni won the offensive zone faceoff for the Buckeyes and Maddi Wheeler dished a pass out to Brooke Disher at the point. Disher dropped it off to Dunne, who skated across the slot and sent a shot from the faceoff dot past Gopher goaltender Skylar Vetter.
The game was even just 1:36 later with Minnesota's Abbey Murphy scoring at 5:04 on a breakaway.
With just 32 seconds to play, Jocelyn Amos buried a rebounded puck at the top of the Minnesota goal crease to put the Buckeyes up, 2-1, at the first intermission. The Buckeyes set up the scoring play off another offensive zone faceoff win, this time with Emma Peschel swinging the puck around the boards to Kiara Zanon on the other side of the zone. Zanon threw the puck towards the net and it bounced off the post right onto Amos' stick.
Ohio State took the one-goal lead after the first period despite being outshot in the frame, 13-10.
Buckeye netminder Amanda Thiele made nine saves to keep Minnesota off the board in the second
The Buckeyes scored the lone goal of the middle frame with Kiara Zanon capitalizing on the team's second power play of the game at 15:23. Buglioni won the puck back on the half boards and passed it out to Peschel at the blue line. Peschel drew the defender and passed off to Zanon, who was wide open and sent a shot from inside the faceoff circle past Vetter.
Minnesota outscored the Buckeyes in the third, 2-1. Emma Kreisz scored at 2:16 to cut the lead to one, but Ohio State restored the two-goal lead with another power play goal. This time it was Buglioni scoring at 6:20 on the first play of the 5-on-4 advantage. She knocked a rebounded shot from Jocelyn Amos past Vetter to put the Buckeyes up, 4-2.
With 2:13 to play, Minnesota called a timeout and pulled Vetter for the extra skater. The team managed to score with nine seconds to play in the game, but the Buckeyes held on for the 4-3 win.

Game Notes

The win marked the Buckeyes' first on home ice this season. The team has now earned three consecutive wins against top 10 opponents and is 3-2-0 against ranked teams this season.
Thiele finished the day with a season-high 24 saves. She improves to 3-1-0 on the year for the Buckeyes and is now one win shy of tying the program record for career wins of 57.
Amos, Buglioni, Peshel, Wheeler and Zanon led the team with two points each. Amos, Buglioni and Wheeler have recorded a point in the last three games for the Buckeyes.
Muzerall is now 200-75-19 in nine seasons at the helm of the Buckeyes. Her 200th win came against her alma mater. She played at Minnesota from 1998-01 and was an assistant coach for the Gophers for five seasons before coming to Columbus. Muzerall is the Buckeyes' winningest head coach and has won 100 games in the last four seasons.
Friday marked the first game of the season the Buckeyes scored twice on the power play. The team's power play is now 4-for-20 (.200) through seven games played.
Prior to the game, the 2024 national championship team was presented with its national championship rings and the championship banner was dropped at the OSU Ice Rink.

Statistically Speaking
Shots on Goal: Minnesota 27, Minnesota 25
Saves: Ohio State (Thiele) 24, Minnesota (Vetter) 21
Power Play: Ohio State 2-3, Minnesota 0-1
Faceoffs: Ohio State 38, Minnesota 22
Ohio State Scoring: Amos (1-1-2), Buglioni (1-1-2), Zanon (1-1-2), Peschel (0-2-2), Wheeler (0-2-2), Dunne (1-0-1), Disher (0-1-1)

Up Next
The Buckeyes and Gophers meet for game two of the series tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. from the OSU Ice Rink. The game will be streamed on B1G+. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

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