DURHAM, N.H. — Ohio State is headed back to the national title game after defeating Clarkson 4-1 on Friday at the Women’s Frozen Four semifinals.
OSU was the national runner-up in 2023 to Wisconsin and the Buckeyes won their first-ever national title in 2022.
The Buckeyes trailed the Golden Knights 1-0 early in the first period but senior forward Makenna Webster tied things up for the No. 1-ranked team late in the first frame.
Things were then quiet through the second period for both teams but the Buckeyes eventually found its game-winning goal just over 13 minutes into the third as Minnesota native Sloane Matthews put the puck into the back of the net.
Joy Dunne, the National Rookie of the Year, then scored a few minutes later —just seconds after an Ohio State power play expired — to increase the lead to 3-1. Defender Hadley Hartmetz then tallied an empty-net goal in the final two minutes of play.
Anne Cherkowski had Clarkson’s early goal and senior goaltender Michelle Pasiechnyk made 49 saves in the loss. The 2023-24 season for the Golden Knights ends with a 33-5-2 overall record.
Senior Raygan Kirk made 17 saves in the victory for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State will advance on to play in the national title game on March 24 at 3 p.m. CT against the winner of Wisconsin and Colgate.
OHIO STATE 4, CLARKSON 1
OSU: 1-0-3—4
CLRK: 1-0-0—1
First period scoring — 1. CLRK, Anne Cherkowski (Brooke McQuigge, Alexie Guay) 2:25; 1. OSU, Makenna Webster (Jenna Buglioni) 13:53
Penalties — None.
Second period scoring — None.
Penalties — None.
Third period scoring — 2. OSU, Sloane Matthews (Riley Brengman, Webster) 13:12; 3. OSU, Joy Dunne (Cayla Barnes, Jennifer Gardiner) 17:00; 4. OSU, Hadley Hartmetz (unassisted) 18:06 (en)
Penalties — CLRK, Sena Catterall (TBA) 14:56
Penalties-minutes: OSU, 0-0; CLRK, 2-4
Power-play goals—opportunities: OSU, 0-1; CLRK, 0-0
Shots on goal — OSU, 24-16-13—53; CLRK, 5-11-2—18
Goalie saves — OSU, Raygan Kirk 4-11-2—17 (1GA); CLRK, Michelle Pasiechnyk 23-16-10—49 (3GA)
…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at "ice hockey" – Google News…