Women’s Ice Hockey: No. 1 Buckeyes look to eliminate “bitter taste” in Frozen Four

Reid Murray
Thu, 21 Mar 2024 22:18:04 +0000
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Graduate forward and captain Jennifer Gardiner speaks to the media ahead of Ohio State’s fourth consecutive Frozen Four appearance. Credit: Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics

The Ohio State women’s ice hockey team has a bitter taste in its mouth.

The Buckeyes are back in the Frozen Four just over a year after losing to Wisconsin in last season’s national championship game, and two weeks after falling 6-3 in their conference championship game to the Badgers this year.

With an NCAA semifinal matchup against No. 4 Clarkson (33-4-2, 18-3-1 ECAC) slated for Friday at 4 p.m., No. 1 Ohio State (33-4-0, 26-2-0 WCHA) is eager to get rid of that taste.

Graduate forward and team captain Jennifer Gardiner said the Buckeyes are hungry to prove themselves, which they demonstrated with a 9-0 NCAA quarterfinal win against No. 8 Minnesota Duluth.

“Obviously there’s a bitter taste in our mouth after that WCHA Final Faceoff game,” Gardiner said. “Coming into the NCAA quarterfinal, we knew that was chapter three, starting the national playoff. Obviously, Duluth is a very good team, but we really put the foot on the gas and made a statement on what this team can do, and that’s why we’re really excited to be here at the Frozen Four.”

The Frozen Four is familiar territory for most Ohio State players; 13 of the Buckeyes’ current players were on last season’s national runner-up squad, and nine won the national title in 2022. But for the 10 transfers and freshmen — none of whom have played in a Frozen Four before — head coach Nadine Muzerall said there is a different attitude.

“It’s talking to two different groups,” Muzerall said. “You’re talking to a group that’s never been here; they have their own bitterness from never being here before, so there’s a lot of motivation from both sides to capture your first or try to get back what was yours.”

One of those players, Boston College transfer and graduate defenseman Cayla Barnes, has played in two Winter Olympic Games and two International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships — but never a Frozen Four. Barnes said she chose to transfer to Ohio State for another chance to be on the big stage.

“I’ve done a lot of things in my career, but this is not one of them,” Barnes said. “It’s really special to be here and I’m just really looking forward to the opportunity. It is such a special group and the perfect blend of experience at a Frozen Four but also hunger.”

This season, the Buckeyes have played two Frozen Four teams — Colgate and Wisconsin — and posted a 4-3 record against them, but they have yet to face Clarkson. Muzerall said playing a new opponent poses a challenge, but she is confident in Ohio State’s preparation.

“It’s the excitement of the unknown,” Muzerall said. “Sometimes we play teams in our conference six times, and it’s not as exciting for the players on both sides, so it’s really nice for Clarkson and us to be tested in a different way. We’ve done a good job scouting film of what we can see. We’ve watched them closely throughout the year, knowing that they’re a good contender, but it’s just gonna be different.”

Going into Friday’s semifinal, Muzerall said “composure” will determine the winner.

“It’s the mental side of the game at this point,” Muzerall said. “You’re physically ready and you’re fit. There’s nothing that’s going to change from now until tomorrow, so it’s just the mindset of having it, not just relentless in your feet and in your hands, but in your mind that you are the number one team and you can go out and own it.”

Ohio State versus Clarkson will be streaming live on ESPN+, with the puck drop set for 4 p.m.