COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s hockey team fell just shy of a repeat national championship, ultimately falling in overtime to the Wisconsin Badgers, 4-3, Sunday night at Ridder Arena. The game was the Buckeyes’ fourth straight national title game appearance.
Ohio State, who finished the season 29-8-3, scored first and never trailed until the overtime goal. Wisconsin (38-1-2) scored the game-winning goal 2:49 into overtime.
Thiele was outstanding, making 31 saves including close to two handfuls of the spectacular variety. The Buckeyes got goals from Joy Dunne, her team-leading 29th of the year, Sloane Matthews (9) and Emma Peschel (8). Jocelyn Amos and Makenna Websters each had assists.
Dunne, a forward, and defenseman Emma Peschel earned spots on the 2025 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.
First Period
The first period was raucous and featured three spectacular goals and a flurry of activity in front of each team’s net. Joy Dunne started the scoring by picking up the puck behind her net, skating the length of the ice while weaving in and out of Badger skaters, and scoring a shorthanded goal just 13 seconds into a UW power play … and 12 seconds later Wisconsin evened the score at 1-all with a goal by Laila Edwards. The scores came with 11:38 and 11:26 left in the period, respectively. Ohio State regained the lead at 2-1 with 5:16 to play in the first as Sloane Matthews skated freely down the left side of the ice and buried a wrister top right past UW goalie Ava McNaughton. Ohio State’s Amanda Thiele made some spectacular saves in the period, including a sprawling save with 11:51 to play, another with 5:2l to go and then a spectacular stop at 4:08 on a tic-tac-toe Badger set-up. She finished with nine saves in the period. Ohio State had 16 shots in the period; Wisconsin had 12. Ohio State won the faceoff battle: 13-8.
Second Period
Buckeye Emma Peschel scored the second-fastest goal to start a period in Frozen Four history by blasting a slap shot past McNoughton just 10 seconds in for a 3-1 lead. Makenna Webster, who chased the puck down off the faceoff and skated behind the net to get chaos at the net started, and Jocelyn Amos had assists on the play. Ohio State kept the pressure on with the next six shots on goal, but Wisconsin retaliated five minutes later as Caroline Harvey scored to make it a one-goal game once again. Neither team could add to their totals in the period, including a power play opportunity by Ohio State.
Third Period
The third period was desperation hockey … Wisconsin needed the equalizing goal and Ohio State looking to go up by two. Both teams played spectacular hockey, particularly on the defensive ends, but neither could score. Then, Wisconsin went on the power play with 1:50 to play as Ohio State was caught with too many skaters on the ice. Ohio State started the kill with two clears, but Wisconsin came back buzzing the Ohio State net. Thiele made a near handful of saves in the final minute, including one without her stick, but then Ohio State was called for covering the puck in the crease. Wisconsin got a penalty shot and with 18.9 seconds left in the third period and Kirsten Simms scored to tie the game. The score was the last of Wisconsin’s 12 shots on goal in the period. Ohio State had three shots on goal in the stanza.
Overtime
Ohio State had an early opportunity at the Wisconsin net, but Wisconsin’s Simms finished the game by scoring off a rebound.
Game Notes
- Ohio State and Wisconsin have met in the Frozen Four national championship game in each of the past three years. All three games have been one-goal affairs.
- The previous two national championship games between Ohio State and Wisconsin were each 1-0 games.
- Joy Dunne set the Ohio State single-season record this year with 62 points (29 goals; 33 assists).
- Jocelyn Amos, Dunne, and Makenna Webster each scored at least one point in each of the last six games of the season.
- Dunne finished the season with a goal in 10 consecutive games.
- Coach Nadine Muzerall is now 225-81-22 in her ninth season at Ohio State and her Buckeyes are now 12-4 in NCAA tournament games.