Ohio State Shuts Out Minnesota Duluth to Advance to Final Faceoff Championship Game

Friday, March 8

Minneapolis, Minn.

2 p.m. (1 p.m. CT)

Ohio State

32-3-0

Minnesota Duluth

20-13-4

Minn. Duluth

Ohio St.

Ohio State Shuts Out Minnesota Duluth to Advance to Final Faceoff Championship Game

3/8/2024 5:27:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Box Score | Schedule | Roster | Season Stats

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 1 Ohio State women's hockey team will play in Saturday's WCHA Final Faceoff championship game after defeating No. 8 Minnesota Duluth, 5-0, in the semifinals Friday afternoon at Ridder Arena.

How it Happened
The Buckeyes (32-3-0, 26-2-0 WCHA) scored two goals in the first two periods and added a fifth in the final frame to earn the 5-0 win over Minnesota Duluth.

Joy Dunne's game-winning goal was scored at 11:03 into the first period and Kiara Zanon doubled the Buckeye's lead less than a minute later, punching in a goal at 11:47.

Emma Peschel scored a wrist shot from the blue line to extend the Buckeye lead to 3-0 at 5:31 in the second. Makenna Webster capitalized on a loose rebound in front of the Minnesota Duluth at 13:54 to give Ohio State a 4-0 lead at the second intermission.

Olivia Mobley scored at 3:19 in the third for the Buckeyes' final goal of the day, skating the puck into the Bulldogs' zone and finishing glove side high of MacLeod.

Ohio State goaltender Raygan Kirk posted a 17-save shutout for the Buckeyes.

Game Notes

Dunne, Buglioni, Gardiner, Peschel and Matthews led the team with two points each in the game.
The Buckeyes had five goal scorers on the day and 10 players score a point. Overall, 15 skaters were on the ice for at least one goal.
Kirk's record this season is now 19-1-0. The shutout was her eighth of the year, which ties for the most in the country.
Ohio State advances to the Final Faceoff championship game for the fifth year in a row.

Statistically Speaking
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 44, Minnesota Duluth 17
Saves: Minnesota Duluth (MacLeod) 39, Ohio State (Kirk) 17
Power Play: Ohio State 0-1, Minnesota Duluth 0-2
Faceoffs: Ohio State 26, Minnesota Duluth 26
Ohio State Scoring (G-A-P): Dunne (1-1-2), Peschel (1-1-2), Buglioni (0-2-2), Gardiner (0-2-2), Mathews (0-2-2), Mobley (1-0-1), Webster (1-0-1), Zanon (1-0-1), Amos (0-1-1), Bilka (0-1-1)

Up Next
Ohio State will play the winner of the second semifinal – Minnesota or Wisconsin – in Saturday's title game. First faceoff is set for 3:00 p.m. ET from Ridder Arena. The game will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).

#GoBucks