In its fourth straight year making it to the Frozen Four, Ohio State beat No. 4 Clarkson 4-1 in a hard fought three periods, three of its goals coming within the final seven minutes of the game.
The Buckeyes were led by senior forward Makenna Webster, who had a goal and an assist, while Sloane Matthews, Joy Dunne and Hadley Hartmetz each added goals of their own.
Clarkson started the scoring early when just over two minutes into the first period Anne Cherkowski found the back of the net with an assist from Brooke McQuigge and Alexie Guay.
That was a big goal for the Golden Knights, who are the No. 1 defensive team in the country, giving up just 1.21 goals per game to their opponents, but the Buckeyes No. 1 offense remained aggressive.
Over the next 12 minutes, Ohio State controlled the puck for much of it, holding a 17-5 lead in shots which Clarkson defended well until 13:53 when Makenna Webster found herself in a 1-on-1 against Golden Knights goalkeeper Michell Pasiechnyk, and Webster was able to get one by her after the first 16 shots were saved, tying the score.
Both teams threatened in the remaining six minutes of the first period, but neither could get another goal and went into the first intermission tied.
The second period was scoreless through the entire 20 minutes, with the Buckeyes taking 15 shots to the Golden Knights 11, each of them saved. Through 40 minutes, Pasiechnyk had 39 saves to Raygan Kirk’s 15. Both teams played the first two periods full strength.
Ohio State had a few good chances to score in the first half of the third period, but Clarkson’s defense stayed strong and was able to make some tough saves. Webster got another chance to score with eight minutes remaining with the right side of the net open, but it was knocked away.
Just over a minute later, Webster wrapped around the back side of the net, finding Riley Brengman coming down the middle for a shot which was saved, but Matthews got the rebound and knocked the puck into the back left side of the net, taking the lead with under seven minutes to go in the game.
The Buckeyes extended their lead right as a power play expired with three minutes left in the game. Dunne – who was just voted as the Julie Chu NCAA Rookie of the Year – took a shot from the left circle through traffic, finding the right side of the net cushioning the lead to 3-1.
The Golden Knights went with an empty net, which didn’t pay off, giving Dunne another shot at a goal which was blocked by a diving Colgate defender. The puck found its way to Hartmetz who shot through traffic into the empty net to put the game away with 1:54 remaining.
Next up for the Buckeyes is the national championship, where they will play against the winner of No. 2 Wisconsin and No. 3 Colgate on Sunday, March 24, at 4:00 p.m. in Durham, N.H.
