Three-Goal Third Period Lifts Buckeyes Past Clarkson

Friday, March 22

Durham, N.H.

4 p.m.

Ohio State

34-4-0

Clarkson University (Semifinals)

33-5-2

Clarkson

Ohio St.

WHKY Frozen Four semifinal goal celebration

Three-Goal Third Period Lifts Buckeyes Past Clarkson

3/22/2024 9:45:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

Box Score | Schedule | Roster | Season Stats

DURHAM, New Hampshire – The No. 1 Ohio State women's hockey team punched its ticket to the national title game with a 4-1 win over No. 4 Clarkson in Friday night's Frozen Four semifinal at the Whittemore Center Arena in Durham, N.H. The Buckeyes improved to 34-4-0 on the year and earned their first win over the Golden Knights.

How it Happened
Clarkson took the original lead in the game, scoring at 2:25 into the period. The Golden Knights held the one-goal advantage for the next 11 minutes until Ohio State's Makenna Webster scored the equalizer at 13:53.

The Buckeyes' first goal of the Frozen Four started with a turnover by Clarkson inside the blueline. Jenna Buglioni was the first Buckeye to the puck and knocked it off to Webster, who was 1-on-1 with the Golden Knights' goaltender Michelle Pasiechnyk. Webster sent the puck between Pasiechnyk's legs to light the lamp for the first time.

Tied 1-1 at the first intermission, Ohio State outshot Clarkson, 24-5, in the opening frame.

The next goal of the game wasn't scored for another 39 minutes. The scoreless second period saw Ohio State add 16 shots on goal and Buckeye netminder Raygan Kirk make 11 saves.

Sloane Matthews earned the go-ahead goal at 13:12 in the final frame. Jenn Gardiner led the odd man rush into the Clarkson zone with Webster and Emma Peschel. Webster got the puck behind the net and made a pass into the slot to Riley Brengman. Brengman took a shot that was blocked, but Matthews capitalized on the rebound to put the Buckeyes ahead, 2-1.

Ohio State extended its lead at 17:00 right as its lone power play opportunity, and the only power play of the game, expired. Joy Dunne lined up right inside the faceoff dot and sent a shot through traffic and past the glove of Pasiechnyk.

Hadley Hartmetz tallied an empty net goal at 18:06 to solidify the win for Ohio State on Friday night.

Kirk finished the day with 17 saves for the Buckeyes for her 21st win of the season.

Game Notes

Hadley Hartmetz, Sloane Matthews and Makenna Webster each scored in last year's 3-0 win over Northeastern in the 2023 Frozen Four semifinals. Matthews picks up her second game-winning goal in the semifinals in as many years.
Joy Dunne's goal was her team-leading 23rd of the season.
Webster finished the game with two points, adding an assist on Matthew's game-winner. She has recorded five multi-point games this season.
Cayla Barnes and Riley Brengman led the team with three blocked shots each.
Ohio State set a program record for wins in a season with the victory over Clarkson. The team's 34 wins this year bests last season's record of 33.

Statistically Speaking
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 53, Clarkson 18
Saves: Clarkson (Pasiechnyk) 49, Ohio State (Kirk) 17
Power Play: Ohio State 0-1, Clarkson 0-0
Faceoffs: Clarkson 25, Ohio State 24
Ohio State Scoring (G-A-P): Webster (1-1-2), Dunne (1-0-1), Hartmetz (1-0-1), Matthews (1-0-1), Barnes (0-1-1), Brengman (0-1-1), Buglioni (0-1-1), Gardiner (0-1-1),

Up Next
Ohio State will play the winner of the second semifinal between No. 2 seed Wisconsin No. 3 seed Colgate in Sunday's national championship game. Faceoff is set for 4 p.m. from the Whittemore Center Arena. The game will be televised on ESPNU.

#GoBucks