Ohio State freshman forward Jordyn Petrie (19) enters the offensive zone during the game against Wisconsin Friday. The Buckeyes fell to the Badgers 4-2. Credit: Danielle Hershenson | Lantern Photographer
A two-goal lead wasn’t enough to get No. 2 Ohio State the win after four unanswered by No. 1 Wisconsin.
The Buckeyes (11-3-2, 6-3-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) fell to No. 1 Wisconsin (13-0, 9-0 WCHA) 4-2 in a rematch of the 2024 national championship game.
But the first period was the Ohio State’s strongest of the game.
After a few close attempts on net, including a tumble by Badger’s goaltender Ava Mcnaughton during a clear, the Buckeyes broke the stalemate only four and a half minutes into the game.
Forward Maddi Wheeler scored her third goal of the season, and this one against her former team thanks to an across-the-goal pass from forward Joy Dunne.
Fourteen seconds later, Buckeye captain Jenna Buglioni increased the Ohio State lead to two with her 12th goal of the season as Dunne recorded her second assist of the night.
Head coach Nadine Muzerall accredited her team’s hot start to their efforts on the forecheck.
“We’re a team that’s very relentless and hardworking, and we work really hard for our goals,” Muzerall said.
Buglioni said she hasn’t intentionally focused on goal-scoring this season as it’s been coming naturally.
“I’m happy to be able to produce for our team, but we have a lot of people that are helping,” Buglioni said. “It’s not just me, it’s all of us.”
Badgers forward Lacy Eden put Wisconsin in the scoring column at 4:49 off assists from forwards Casey O’Brien and Laila Edwards to cut its deficit to 2-1.
O’Brien then netted a goal of her own at 11:53 off assists by Edwards and defender Vivian Jungels to even the score with Ohio State.
The second period concluded with a 2-2 tie.
The Badgers opened the third period with a power play goal at 2:43 by Eden to take their first lead of the game. Her second goal of the night was assisted by Edwards and forward Kirsten Simms.
Despite the Buckeyes outshooting the Badgers 33-22, Ohio State was unable to find the equalizer.
Muzerall said she felt her team dominated the ice with offensive pressure, but were held back by the inability to capitalize.
“What I liked was I felt the domination that we had in big chunks of the game, and [we] outshot them considerably,” Muzerall said.
An empty net goal by Badgers defender Caroline Harvey finalized the score at 4-2 in game one between Wisconsin and Ohio State.
Buglioni said that she was proud of her team for playing relentlessly until the end, despite the end result.
“I’m really proud of our group, it makes me a little emotional,” Buglioni said. “I would pick our locker room 10 times out of 10, like I’d pick our girls over and over again.”
The Buckeyes are back in action against the Badgers.at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Ohio State Ice Rink.
