Ohio State Wins 2023-24 WCHA Regular Season Title

Saturday, February 17

Columbus, Ohio

3 p.m.

Ohio State

28-2-0, 25-1-0

St. Thomas

8-24-1, 2-23-1

St. Thomas (MN)

Ohio St.

Ohio State Wins 2023-24 WCHA Regular Season Title

2/17/2024 7:06:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Julianne Bye Cup stays in Columbus for another year. The No. 1 Ohio State women's hockey team defeated St. Thomas, 4-1, Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd at the OSU Ice Rink to clinch the 2023-24 Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season title.

The Buckeyes (28-2-0, 25-1-0 WCHA) have won the title for the second consecutive season and were presented with the trophy on home ice for the first time in program history.

How it Happened
Similar to Friday's game, the Buckeyes and Tommies (8-24-1, 2-23-1 WCHA) were tied after the first period. St. Thomas' Ella Boerger scored 17 seconds into the game, but the lead was neutralized at 12:29 by Cayla Barnes.

Every Buckeye goal was scored by a fifth-year senior in Saturday's Senior Day game. After Barnes' game-tying goal, Lauren Bernard, a senior defender, put the Buckeyes in the lead with a shorthanded goal at 6:33 in the second period. Graduate forward Kenzie Hauswirth ripped a shot into the top-right corner over St. Thomas goaltender Calla Frank's glove to extend the Buckeyes' lead to two goals at 13:58 in the second. Ohio State's final goal of the afternoon was scored by graduate forward Hannah Bilka on the power play at 9:02 in the final frame.

Fifth-year senior goaltender Raygan Kirk earned the start on Saturday, making 12 saves for her 15th win of the season.

The Buckeyes recognized six seniors prior to the game – Barnes, Bernard, Bilka, Kirk, Kelsey King and Stephanie Markowski. King and Markowski tallied an assist in the win.

Game Notes

Ohio State scored its seventh short handed goal of the year on Saturday, tying the program record for short handed goals in a season.
Bilka's power play goal was the Buckeyes' first in seven games. She is now tied with Jenn Gardiner with a team-high four power play goals this season.
Jenna Buglioni led the team with two points on the day with two assists. Her assists came on both special teams goals, earning the second assist on both Bernard's shorthanded and Bilka's power play goal.
By winning the regular season title, Ohio State will have the top seed in the WCHA tournament. The Buckeyes will play the No. 8 seed at home in a best-of-three series March 1-3.

Statistically Speaking
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 53, St. Thomas 13
Saves: St. Thomas (Frank) 49, Ohio State (Kirk) 12
Power Play: Ohio State 1-1, St. Thomas 0-1
Faceoffs: Ohio State 34, St. Thomas 23
Ohio State Scoring (G-A-P): Buglioni (0-2-2), Barnes (1-0-1), Bernard (1-0-1), Bilka (1-0-1), Hauswirth (1-0-1), Amos (0-1-1), Brengman (0-1-1), Gardiner (0-1-1), King (0-1-1), Markowski (0-1-1)

Up Next
Ohio State plays its final regular season series of the year at Wisconsin next weekend. The matchup between the No. 1 Buckeyes and No. 2 Badgers is set for Feb. 23-24 in Madison, Wis. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET Friday and 9 p.m. ET Saturday. Game two of the series will be televised on Big Ten Network.

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