The Buckeyes huddle prior to their match against St. Thomas on Nov. 2 at the St. Thomas Ice Arena. The Buckeyes won 1-0 in overtime. Credit: Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
The top two teams in the country will meet this weekend in Columbus.
The No. 2 Buckeyes (11-2-2, 6-2-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) will face the No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers (12-0, 8-0 WCHA) 6 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday at OSU Ice Rink.
The Buckeyes are coming off a bye week, most recently defeating St. Thomas on the road, taking home five of six conference points. But the upcoming Wisconsin matchups are accompanied by extensive history beyond marking a No. 1 versus No. 2 showdown.
The Buckeyes and Badgers have competed against one another in the last two national championship games. Ohio State lost to Wisconsin 1-0 in 2023 but won by the same margin to claim the title in 2024.
Buckeye captain and graduate forward Jenna Buglioni said when Wisconsin and Ohio State clash, there’s bound to be plenty of excitement, especially considering the last time they met each other on the ice.
“I think when you see No. 1 and No. 2 teams in this country going at it, it’s a big deal, so we’re really excited,” Buglioni said.
So far this season, Wisconsin has outscored its opponents 75-9 over a 12-game span, giving the Badgers an average of six-plus goals per game.
In comparison, Ohio State has outscored its opponents 65-26 over 15 games, averaging around four goals per game.
The Buckeyes will have to tighten up their defensive zone to account for the Badgers’ offensive skill, Buglioni said.
“For us, just playing relentlessly is a big thing,” Buglioni said. “They’re very skilled, but when we play physical, and when we play fast and are relentless to our style, that will serve us well for sure.”
The Buckeyes will also be back at the Ohio State University Ice Rink for the first time since Oct. 22. Junior defender Emma Peschel said it will feel great to be at home again.
“We love our home crowd; it’s a lot of energy and we feed off of them,” Peschel said. “So, we’re super excited to have a big crowd and show Wisconsin what Ohio State’s made of.”
Peschel said her team is expecting two tough games this weekend against the Badgers.
“We want to get to that No. 1 spot, but we know it’s going to be a battle,” Peschel said. “We’re going to have to earn it.”
Wisconsin junior forward Laila Edwards will be a player to watch, as she leads her squad and the league with 13 goals.
Another key player for the Badgers is graduate forward Casey O’Brien, who leads her team and the league in assists, recording 19 so far this season.
Facing Wisconsin won’t be easy for Ohio State, but graduate goaltender Amanda Thiele said she’s going to enjoy the matchup.
“Just playing a full 60, and for me personally, not letting any goals in,” Thiele said about her mindset heading into this weekend. “But [we need] to just play our game, play Buckeye hockey and play a full 60, and I think we should be pretty good.”
Buglioni leads the pack for the Buckeyes with 11 goals, 11 assists and 22 blocks, while forward Joy Dunne follows close behind with 11, 9 and 20, respectively. Dunne scored the game-winning goal against Wisconsin in the 2024 national championship game.
“I think our fans will show up for us, and that will create a lot of energy,” Thiele said. “I think we’re all excited and eager to play, so it will just be a really fun weekend.”
