Ohio State women's hockey lost to Wisconsin in heartbreaking fashion in the national championship game.
The Buckeyes, who led the Badgers for most of regulation, fell to the Badgers 4-3 in overtime, falling short of claiming the program's second straight NCAA championship and third national title in four years.
Ohio State led 3-2 late in the third period, but Wisconsin capitalized on a penalty shot with 18 seconds left after referees determined by video review that an Ohio State defenseman covered the puck with her hand inside the crease. The Badgers used their new lease on life to win the game three minutes into the overtime period.
THE BADGERS ARE BRINGING THE NATTY HOME! @simmsy0427 scores the OT winner for the Badgers!#WFrozenFour x ESPNU / @BadgerWHockey pic.twitter.com/Z9KYsUGhom
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 23, 2025
The Buckeyes and Badgers have been championship opponents in each of the past three seasons. Following Ohio State's win over Minnesota-Duluth to secure the program's first national championship, the Buckeyes split their previous title matchups with the Badgers, losing 1-0 in 2023 and winning 1-0 in 2024.
How It Happened
After a tame opening eight minutes in Minneapolis, Ohio State forward Jordyn Petrie committed a cross-checking penalty that sent her to the box for two minutes. Unwavered, Ohio State forward Joy Dunne provided another memorable moment amid her impressive sophomore season, scoring a coast-to-coast goal for the short-handed Buckeyes.
SHORTHANDED GOAL FOR THE BUCKEYES! @joyv_dunne puts the Buckeyes on the board first with 11:38 left in the first period. 1-0 OHIO!#WFrozenFour x ESPNU / @OhioStateWHKY pic.twitter.com/C2jmVvBvVr
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 23, 2025
Before Ohio State finished celebrating inside Ridder Arena, Wisconsin forward Laila Edwards responded with her 35th goal of the season. Like Dunne, Edwards needed no assistance as she corralled a loose puck, deked around Ohio State goaltender Amanda Thiele and sent a shot into the back of the net.
BADGERS ANSWER BACK! Fastest consecutive back to back goals from opposing teams in #WFrozenFour history! @laila_edwards21 knots it up 1-1 just 12 seconds later #WFrozenFour x ESPNU / @BadgerWHockey pic.twitter.com/Sh5GtkU2JA
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 23, 2025
Six minutes later, Ohio State forward Sloane Matthews fired a near-side, top-shelf snipe past Wisconsin goaltender Ava McNaughton, bringing the Buckeyes and Badgers’ combined goal total to three — surpassing the two scored in their previous two championship matchups.
TOP SHELF SNIPER! With 5:16 left in the 1st period, Sloane Matthews rips one top shelf to put the Buckeyes up 2-1! #WFrozenFour x ESPNU / @OhioStateWHKY pic.twitter.com/RVdrE24ExW
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 23, 2025
Ten seconds into the second period, Ohio State defenseman Emma Peschel one-timed a rocket from a few feet behind the face-off dot over McNaughton's glove, pushing the Buckeyes' lead to 3-1. Forwards Jocelyn Amos and Makenna Webster earned assists for the goal.
10 SECONDS INTO THE PERIOD! @EmmaPeschel kicks it off early in the period to make it 3-1 Buckeyes! #WFrozenFour x ESPNU / @OhioStateWHKY pic.twitter.com/MzXOD0o7Mg
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 23, 2025
The fireworks continued five minutes later when Wisconsin defenseman Caroline Harvey sent her own one-timer into the net via assists from Edwards and forward Kirsten Simms. Thiele appeared to lose track of the puck as it zoomed past Peschel, whose positioning screened Thiele's vision from both Harvey and the shot.
THE SNIPE AND THE CELLY! with 14:33 left in the second period, Caroline Harvey gets the snipe to bring the Badgers back within one. 3-2 Ohio State. #WFrozenFour x ESPNU / @BadgerWHockey pic.twitter.com/OCuStIsT1Y
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 23, 2025
Ohio State went on the power play when Wisconsin defenseman Emma Venusio committed a roughing penalty with 6:41 left in the second period. However, the Buckeyes were unable to capitalize on two opportunities that saw defenseman Emma Zumwinkle miss the net and Dunne send a shot into a blocker.
Holding onto its 3-2 lead entering the third period, Ohio State had to fend off a relentless Wisconsin attack for all 20 minutes.
Thiele endured several tests in the frame, none harder than a period of 6-on-4 action and, even more, a Wisconsin penalty shot after an Ohio State defenseman covered the puck with her hand inside the crease. She passed the first, saving 11 shots (some with her stick and some without), but failed the second, as Simms tied the game with a well-executed drive and crafty finish at the net.
SHE SHOOTS, SHE SCORES! @simmsy0427 with the penalty shot goal to tie it up for the Badgers with 18.9 seconds remaining the game! #WFrozenFour x ESPNU / @BadgerWHockey pic.twitter.com/MBA9G4Sdfc
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 23, 2025
In the overtime period, Simms scored after securing a rebound off Thiele's pad. It was Simms' second goal of the game following her goal via the penalty at the end of regulation.
