Ohio State and Wisconsin have been very familiar with each other in women’s ice hockey. Not only do the two play in the same league, the WCHA, but the two have met for the last four national championship games, including on Sunday, with OSU losing a hard-fought 3 to 2 game.
It could be argued that the Buckeyes outplayed Wisconsin, but because of an early 2-0 hole, they didn’t quite have enough to finish things off despite tying things up midway through the 3rd period with two goals in the final stanza.
The Badgers got on the board first with a goal not even two minutes in to break the ice, then got another goal at the 12:26 mark, and just like that, OSU would have to climb uphill. That’s exactly what happened with both teams failing to score in the second stanza before Ohio State got goals just 3:32 and 5:34 into the last period.
It looked from there as though things were headed for overtime, but Wisconsin was able to get the go-ahead goal at the 6:18 mark, and despite a decent push late, the Buckeyes were unable to equalize, and the Badgers are back-to-back national champions, and a heartbreaking result for OSU two straight years.
Despite the loss, head coach Nadine Muzarall has the program on a tear, having made the national championship games five years in a row. It feels like the Buckeyes will be at the top of the sport as long as she is on the bench.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State women’s ice hockey loses national title to Wisconsin
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
