COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Buckeyes won their second NCAA championship in the last three years with a 1-0 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers Sunday afternoon at the Whittemore Center Arena in Durham, N.H. The win capped a spectacular 35-4-0 season for coach Nadine Muzeral’s program, which carried the target as the No. 1 team in the nation for virtually the entire year and set a school record for victories.
The title game matched Ohio State and Wisconsin for the sixth time this season and for the second consecutive year in the championship game of the Frozen Four. Ohio State won the first three games in the series this year only to have the Badgers come back with consecutive wins late in the season.
The Badgers, who finish 35-6-0 this season, won last year’s title game, 1-0, and were looking to repeat as national champions for the first time since 2017-18.
Ohio State wouldn’t have any of that, though. In an evenly played game – both teams had 26 shots on goal; Ohio State led in face-offs won, 34-29; Wisconsin had 20 blocks to Ohio State’s 17 – Ohio State prevailed on a goal by Joy Dunne with 7:12 left to play in the third period. The assists went to Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes.
Goalie Raygan Kirk, voted the Most Outstanding Player in the tournament, recorded 26 saves to earn the shutout in her final collegiate game.
“Very humbled to be sitting here,” said Muzerall, who also guided Ohio State to the 2022 national championship with a 3-2 victory over Minnesota Duluth. “First, congrats to the players and all the hard work they put in throughout the year. Congratulations to Wisconsin. That was one hell of a game. Both teams really battled hard.
“We knew it was going to be a tough challenge because they have so much offensive power. We focused early on their transition side of the game and not giving up odd-man rushes and controlling the neutral zone. We did that very well as we were getting our chances as were they. I was very proud of our defensive side of the game and very proud of the way they punched back after a tough loss the last time we played against Wisconsin. I think it showed a lot of character of not letting that get to them on this high stage.”
How it Happened
Neither team was able to get on the board in the first period. Shots on goal were knotted for most of the period, but Ohio State managed to land eight shots on Wisconsin goaltender Ava McNaughten while Ohio State goaltender Raygan Kirk made seven saves to hold the Badgers without a goal.
The second period was another back-and-forth battle. Ohio State had good chances, including a shot from Jocelyn Amos that hit the post, but was not able to break the 0-0 tie. The Buckeyes outshot Wisconsin, 12-9, in the frame. Wisconsin had a huge chance to score with 1:53 to go in the period when Casey O’Brien had a step on the Buckeyes, but Kirk made a terrific save to keep the game scoreless.
Ohio State finally broke the scoreless contest 53 minutes into the game. National rookie of the year Joy Dunne scored at 7:12 of the third period off assists by Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes. Dunne’s shot, from the left of Wisconsin goalie McNaughton, was a rocket up and over her right shoulder.
From there, Ohio State played to win but still had to hold on as the Badgers were buzzing while trying to get the equalizer. McNaughton went to the bench, giving the Badgers a sixth attacker, with 1:33 left to play.
Kirk immediately made a save off a shot from the wide right with 1:16 to play and then with 28 seconds left to go she turned another shot aside to preserve the shutout.
Game Notes
Sunday’s national championship game was the third-highest attended women’s ice hockey national championship game in history. The 4,378 fans on hand was the largest attendance at the national championship since 2006.
Joy Dunne’s goal was her sixth game-winner and her team-leading 24th of the season.
Dunne also scored in the semifinal win over Clarkston.
Hannah Bilka’s assist was her 26th of the year. She led the team with 48 total points.
Cayla Barnes’ assist was her 25th of the year.
Raygan Kirk’s win in the net was her school-record 22nd of the year.
Four Buckeyes were named to the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team: forwards Makenna Webster and Joy Dunne, defender Cayla Barnes and goalie Raygan Kirk.
Statistically Speaking
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 26, Wisconsin 26
Saves: Ohio State (Kirk) 26, Wisconsin (McNaughton) 26
Power Play: Ohio State 0-0, Wisconsin 0-0
Faceoffs: Ohio State 34, Wisconsin 29
Ohio State Scoring (G-A-P): Dunne (1-0-1), Bilka (0-1-1), Barnes (0-1-1)
2024 Women’s Frozen Four All-Tournament Team
F Kirsten Simms Wisconsin
F Makenna Webster Ohio State
F Joy Dunne Ohio State
D Cayla Barnes Ohio State
D Caroline Harvey Wisconsin
G Raygan Kirk Ohio State
MOP
G Raygan Kirk Ohio State
