Women’s Ice Hockey: No. 1 Buckeyes prevail 2-1 over No. 8 Bemidji State, advance to WCHA Final Faceoff semifinals

Nicole Giannetta
Sun, 26 Feb 2023 00:37:31 +0000
Ice Hockey, Instagram Page, News, Sports, Women's hockey, 2022 National Champions, Alaina Giampietro, Alex Sommer, Amanda Thiele, Brooke Bink, Buckeyes, Chris Friend, Emerson Jarvis, emma maltais, Emma Peschel, Gabby Rosenthal, Gali Levy, Hadley Hartmetz, hockey, Jamie Grinder, Jenna Buglioni, Jennifer Gardiner, Kelsey cline, Kenzie Hauswirth, Kevin Lennon, Lauren Bernard, Lauren Spring, Lexington Secreto, Madison Bizal, Makenna Webster, Nadine Muzerall, National Champions [and 17 more]

Ohio State graduate forward Emma Maltais (17) attempts to score during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State graduate forward Emma Maltais (17) watches the puck drop during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State freshman forward Sofie Lundin (28) awaits the puck drop during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State freshman forward Sloane Matthews (22) scores the first goal of the game during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

The Ohio State women's ice hockey team celebrates a goal during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State graduate defenseman Sophie Jaques (18) looks to make a play during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State senior defenseman Lauren Bernard (19) takes control of the puck during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State senior defenseman Lauren Bernard (19) looks to make a play during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State junior goaltender Amanda Thiele (30) guards the goal during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State graduate forward Paetyn Levis (27) redirects the puck during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State freshman forward Sloane Matthews (22) passes the puck during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State graduate foward Gabby Rosenthal (15) reaches for the puck during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State junior forward Makenna Webster (20) looks to take control of the puck during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State graduate forward Paetyn Levis (27) redirects the play during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State graduate defenseman Sophie Jaques (18) dribbles the puck towards the goal during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State graduate forward Paetyn Levis (27) steals the puck during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State graduate forward Paetyn Levis (27) attempts to score during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State graduate defenseman Sophie Jaques (18) stands ready during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State graduate forward Emma Maltais (17) is announced into the starting lineup during the No.1 Ohio State-No.8 Bemidji State game Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

The Ohio State women's ice hockey team lines up before their matchup against Bemidji State on Saturday. Ohio State won 2-1. Credit: Katie Good | Asst. Photo Editor

The No. 1 ranked Ohio State women’s hockey team took a big step defending their national championship with a 2-1 victory over No. 8 Bemidji State in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association quarterfinals. The Buckeyes advanced to the WCHA Final Faceoff semifinals in Minnesota next weekend.

In the second game of the quarterfinals series, freshman forward Sloane Matthews and senior forward Jennifer Gardiner each scored a goal to lead the Buckeyes (30-4-2, 24-4-1 WCHA) over the Beavers (5-29-1, 2-30-0 WCHA).?

Saturday’s win on home ice, which followed Ohio State’s series-opening 4-1 victory Friday, helped the Buckeyes reach 30 wins for the second season in a row.

“That was a challenging game, a little different style than I think we’re used to playing against,” head coach Nadine Muzerall said. “Bemidji was fighting and hanging on and wanting to win, because nobody wants their career or their season to end. We knew it was going to be difficult.”

Matthews led the Buckeyes early on, notching her fifth goal of the season just two minutes into the first period after an assist from senior forward Kenzie Hauswirth.

“I think Kenzie went in super hard,”? Matthews said. “She’s been playing really well, and it just happened to pop right out in front of the slot. I was there to just knock it in.”

Following the goal, both teams then went scoreless for the remainder of the period despite nine shots from Ohio State and five from Bemidji State.

“I think that they did a really good job playing the defensive side of the game against us, and then when they had some offensive opportunities, it became a little scary,” Muzerall said.

The Beavers saw their offensive chance to tie the score eight minutes into the second period after Ohio State received a penalty for hooking. However Bemidji State was unable to capitalize on the power play opportunity.

Once again, the teams kept each other off the scoreboard for the following 12 minutes of play, leaving the score at 1-0 heading into the final frame.

After 15 more scoreless minutes, the Buckeyes picked up speed as they pestered Beavers junior goaltender Hannah Hogenson with back-to-back shots. Gardiner was the one to find the back of the net at 16:17, which was her 21st goal this season giving Ohio State a two-score lead.

“Our team had a lot of momentum throughout the game. There were a lot of chances from everyone,” Gardiner said. “I was just lucky enough to get that opportunity in front and bury it.”

Less than two minutes after Gardiner’s goal, the Beavers were able to tighten the gap after sophomore forward Claire Vekich scored her seventh goal of the season on a power play at 17:37.

Despite Bemidji State’s late pressure against the Buckeyes, Ohio State was able to hold it down for the slim remainder of the frame, securing the 2-1 victory and earning its spot in the Final Faceoff semifinals for the sixth-straight season.

Muzerall emphasized the additional challenge faced at postseason matchups, a place with which the Buckeyes have been plenty familiar recently.?

“No matter what position you are when you get into that second phase of your season, which is conference playoff time, it doesn’t matter. It resets, and everybody’s at zero,” Muzerall said. “It becomes a whole new ballgame, and it’s difficult, but I’m glad the first step to the championship is over.”

The semifinal series will commence Friday at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis where the Buckeyes will play the No. 4 seed that is still to be determined.