Ohio State Women’s Hockey Team Wins First National Championship In Program History

The Ohio State women’s hockey team won the first national championship in program history with a 3-2 win over Minnesota-Duluth at Penn State’s Pegula Ice Arena on Sunday evening.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!

For the first-time ever, @OhioStateWHKY wins the National Championship! #WFrozenFour pic.twitter.com/OIoGsviLy9
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 20, 2022

Neither team scored in the first period, but senior forward Paetyn Levis got the Buckeyes on the board with a power play goal at the 15:50 mark of the second period. The Bulldogs then tied it up with 6:50 left in the period on a rebound goal from junior forward Naomi Rogge.

BUCKEYES STRIKE FIRST!

Paetyn Levis pokes it home to put @OhioStateWHKY up 1-0.

🎥 ESPNU x #WFrozenFour pic.twitter.com/ReRc5qSKec
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 20, 2022

Ohio State regained the lead just 24 seconds into the third period on a goal from fifth-year senior and Bemidji State transfer forward Clair DeGeorge, but Minnesota-Duluth tied it again at the 18:13 mark on a goal from fifth-year senior forward Elizabeth Giguere off of a turnover.

OHIO STATE HAS THE LEAD!

24 seconds into the 3rd Clair DeGeorge capitalizes on the miscue for @OhioStateWHKY!

🎥 ESPNU x #WFrozenFour pic.twitter.com/rPjsYIrvk7
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 20, 2022

Junior forward Kenzie Hauswirth ultimately netted the game-winning goal for the Buckeyes with 6:40 remaining in the third period on a shot that deflected off the skate of a defender, while senior goaltender Amanda Thiele was able to keep the Bulldogs out of the net the rest of the way for the victory.

HAUSWIRTH FOR THE LEAD!!@OhioStateWHKY takes the lead on Kenzie Hauswirth's 3rd period goal!!

🎥 ESPNU x #WFrozenFour pic.twitter.com/APiZcGrCbz
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 20, 2022

This was Ohio State’s third trip to the Frozen Four – all of which have come under the direction of head coach Nadine Muzerall – though the Buckeyes lost in the national semifinal in 2018 and 2021 to eventual national champions Clarkson and Wisconsin, respectively. They knocked off Yale on Friday for their first trip to the title game.

CHAMPIONS!@OhioStateWHKY x #WFrozenFour pic.twitter.com/65q0L1jnxJ
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 20, 2022

“I just believed in these girls so much, as they did in each other, and I thought this was one of the best hockey games they played all year,” Muzerall said after the game. “So deserving of it and they never quit. They played flawlessly tonight. I'm so proud of them.”

Ohio State finishes the season with a school-record 32 wins compared to just six losses, and will now bring the championship hardware – including Levis' Most Valuable Player award – back to Columbus for the first time after avenging two of those losses on Sunday evening.

-----

Be sure to check out our new message boards, Buckeye Forums. We'd love to have you part of the conversation during the season.

-----

You may also like:

Holtmann, Liddell And Branham Discuss Ohio State’s 71-61 Loss To Villanova

Ohio State Falls To Villanova, 71-61, In Second Round Of NCAA Tournament

Ohio State Focused On Defense Ahead Of Second-Round Matchup With Villanova

Chris Holtmann Reflects On Previous Meetings With Villanova, Jay Wright

Ohio State Women’s Hockey Team Advances To National Championship

Kyle Young Overcomes Concussion To Help Ohio State Beat Loyola Chicago

-----

Be sure to stay locked into BuckeyesNow all the time!