No. 2 Buckeyes shut out Bemidji State 5-0

Junior goaltender Amanda Thiele had a shutout and graduate forward Paetyn Levis notched two goals as the No. 2 Ohio State women’s ice hockey team returned to home ice in a clash versus the Bemidji State Beavers and handily won 5-0.

Despite being unable to find the back of the net in the opening minutes, Ohio State set the tone from the first drop of the puck, controlling the pace and not allowing a shot on goal for the first nine minutes of play. 

Head coach Nadine Muzerall said she was glad the team set the pace despite missing key players graduate forward Emma Maltais, junior defenseman Riley Brengman and graduate forward Gabby Rosenthal to the 2022-23 Rivalry Series.

“I just wanted to see if they could have some leadership and step up,” Muzerall said. “I think that was intentional to give them the ability to be leaders in the locker room instead of it always coming from the top.

With 10 minutes left in the first period, graduate defenseman Madison Bizal got the scoring started for the Buckeyes with a top-shelf wrist shot from the point, soaring past Beavers junior goaltender Hannah Hogenson and giving Ohio State a 1-0 lead on her second goal of the season.

With five minutes left in the first, Levis was sent to the penalty box for slashing, but the Ohio State penalty kill prevailed. Senior forward Kenzie Hauswirth said the Buckeye penalty kill was crucial in its victory versus the Beavers and has been so all year.

“We take a lot of pride in our penalty kill,” Hauswirth said. “I think we did really well tonight and when we killed off the penalties that brought us a lot more momentum, and we really build off that and thrive off that.”

Less than a minute after returning to even strength, graduate forward and dual-sport athlete Makenna Webster found the back of the net from the crease, and extended the Buckeye lead to 2-0 to end the first period. Muzerall said with Webster back on the ice full time, her role will become increasingly important.

“She brings that energy to the team, and everybody has to rise up around her,” Muzerall said. “I’m excited to see the future for her when she gets a little bit more into hockey shape.”

The early minutes of the second period of play consisted of more of the same, with Ohio State’s forecheck consistently pressuring Hogenson and the Beavers’ defense.

A 2-on-1…