Buckeyes’ Comeback Falls Short in 2026 NCAA Title Game

Sunday, March 22

University Park, Pa.

4 p.m.

Ohio State

36-5-0

Wisconsin

35-4-2

Wisconsin

Ohio St.

Buckeyes’ Comeback Falls Short in 2026 NCAA Title Game

3/22/2026 7:47:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Ohio State women's hockey team finished the 2025-26 season as the NCAA runner-up, falling, 3-2, to Wisconsin in Sunday's national championship game at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pa.

Short Story
Down 2-0 entering the third period, Ohio State scored twice in the first six minutes of the third period to tie the game. But the Badgers regained the lead at 13:42 in the third period for the final 3-2 win.

The game was nearly even in scoring opportunities with Ohio State outshooting Wisconsin, 36-34. The Buckeyes won the battle at the faceoff dot, 43-26, and Jocelyn Amos led the team with 26 wins for a .591 win percentage.

The Ohio State penalty kill went 6-for-6 on the day, holding the top power play in the country scoreless.

How it Happened

Wisconsin scored first at 1:18 and doubled the lead at 7:34. Ohio State was 18-for-24 at the faceoff dot in the first period and had nine shots on goal in first seven minutes. But both teams ended the first period with 12 shots on goal in the opening frame.
Ohio State had its best opportunity in the period with 3:30 on the clock by Joy Dunne, but it was gloved down by Badger goaltender Ava McNaughton.
The Buckeyes came out firing in the second period, recording seven unanswered shots in the first nine minutes of the period. The teams both put 11 shots on goal in the second period with Ohio State netminder Hailey MacLeod and Wisconsin's McNaughton stopping all 11.
Ohio State's first goal of the game was scored at 3:32 in the third period by Kassidy Carmichael. A shot from Mira Jungåker was deflected by Carmichael past McNaughton to cut the Badger lead down to one with 16:29 to play in the third.
The game-tying goal was scored at 5:34 by Jocelyn Amos. In typical fashion, Amos won a faceoff and knocked the puck out to Dunne on the half wall. Dunne found Emma Peschel at the point and Peschel send a shot on target. The rebounded shot was corralled by Amos at the top of the goal crease and skated the puck around McNaughton for the game-tying goal.
Wisconsin took back the lead with 6:18 to play in the third for the final goal of the game.

Game Notes

Sunday marked Ohio State's fifth straight national title game appearance. The stretch ties for the record, matching Minnesota's five consecutive appearances from 2012-16.
Buckeye seniors Brooke Disher, Hailey MacLeod, Sloane Matthews, Emma Peschel and Sara Swiderski played their final game in the Scarlet and Gray jersey Sunday. Matthews and Peschel played in the national championship game all four years of their Buckeye careers. Peschel recorded an assist on the game-tying goal.
Ohio State finishes the season 36-5-0 overall. The team's 36 wins are the most single-season wins in program history.
Peschel was named to the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.

Statistically Speaking
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 36, Wisconsin 24
Saves: Wisconsin (McNaughton) 34, Ohio State (MacLeod) 31
Power Play: Ohio State 0-1, Wisconsin 0-6
Faceoffs: Ohio State 43, Wisconsin 28
Ohio State Scoring: Amos (1-0-1), Carmichael (1-0-1), Dunne (0-1-1), Jungåker (0-1-1), Peschel (0-1-1), Svensson (0-1-1)

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