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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 4-ranked Ohio State women’s hockey team opened its 2020-21 home ice season in spectacular fashion, defeating No. 1-ranked Wisconsin, 3-2, Friday evening at the OSU Ice Rink behind three first period goals and stellar defense. The win improved Ohio State’s record to 2-1-0 overall and in the WCHA. The game was the first of the season for the Badgers, who drop to 0-1-0.
“We have to grow into our confidence and our understanding that we are one of the best teams in the country,” said head coach Nadine Muzerall. “We don’t want to be talking about stealing games away anymore. It’s not a steal any more, it’s definitely earned.”
.@OhioStateWHKY's offense is clicking with three goals netted and time still left in the second period. 👀 pic.twitter.com/URslhbQRvz
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) November 28, 2020
Juniors Sophie Jaques and Madison Bizal staked the Buckeyes to a 2-0 lead with goals in the first 13 minutes of the game. After Wisconsin cut the score in half with 3:39 to play in the first, Ohio State freshman Jenna Buglioni scored her first career goal three minutes later for a 3-1 lead with 40 seconds left in the period.
Back came the Badgers, though, with a goal 15 seconds into the second period to cut the lead to 3-2.
The final 39 minutes-plus was scoreless, as Ohio State junior goalie Andrea Braendi stopped 12 shots the rest of the way (and 21 for the game), including two in the final 1:48 when the Badgers were buzzing the net with their goalie pulled. UW goalie Kennedy Blair stopped 21 Buckeye shots in the final two periods and 33 for the game.
Ohio State, which split a series with No. 3 Minnesota last weekend in Minneapolis, has now received goals from five different skaters this season with seniors Liz Schepers and Tatum Skaggs scoring against the Golden Gophers.
Assisting on goals against the Badgers were Schepers and Skaggs on Jaques’ goal, Emma Maltais and Schepers on Bizal’s goal, and Jennifer Gardner and Bizal on Buglioni’s game-decider.
No fans were in attendance as the university has aligned with a local stay-at-home order in effect until at least Dec. 18. The teams wrap up their two-game series Saturday afternoon at the OSU Ice Rink at 2:37 p.m. The game will be streamed on BTN Plus (subscription required).
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