The Ohio State Buckeyes spotted the Wisconsin Badgers a 3-0 lead and never recovered, falling 4-2 in the semi-final of the NCAA Frozen Four women’s ice hockey championships in Erie, Pa. on Thursday.
Second-ranked Wisconsin scored goals early in the first and second periods in a game that was a rematch of their conference championship March 7, which was also won by the Badgers, 3-2 in overtime. They widened their margin to 3-0 midway through the second period before the Buckeyes started to chip their way back.
Ohio State narrowed the advantage to 3-2 7:55 into the third period. But that’s as close as they got, as Wisconsin clinched its passage to Saturday’s final by scoring into the Buckeyes’ empty net with 13 seconds left on the clock.
Port Moody’s Jenna Buglioni, a freshman at Ohio State, fired three shots on net during the game, but was held off the scoresheet. She finished her first campaign of NCAA hockey with 15 points in 20 games, tied for third amongst all Buckeyes’ players.
It was Ohio State’s second trip to the Frozen Four in the last four years. The team has never won a national championship.
Wisconsin is the defending national champion. It won the title in 2019. Last year’s tournament was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
