The Packers and the Bears, Brady versus Manning, the Lakers and the Celtics… and the Wisconsin Badgers versus the Ohio State Buckeyes in women’s hockey. Put it up on the mantle against all the other great rivalries, it’s the cream of the crop when it comes to women’s hockey, and this weekend pits the top-ranked Badgers against the second-ranked Buckeyes yet again.
It’s the earliest calendar date these two have met since 2016, providing some early-season fireworks between rivals who have played each other for the last four NCAA championships. Wisconsin has won three of those four matchups, including the last two. All in all, Wisconsin has won five of the last seven championships, with Ohio State doubling up in the remainder.
This weekend also marks the first true test for the Badgers (4-0), who made quick work of St. Lawrence and swept Boston University in the first home series last weekend. The second game against Boston University saw Wisconsin trail after the first period and enter the third tied before pulling away.
The Buckeyes (4-0), on the other hand, opened their season on the road by sweeping No. 4 Penn State. They will be a bit more battle-tested heading into this weekend, but the young Badgers will embrace the challenge with open arms. This series will serve as a measuring stick to see where this remodeled roster stands against their primary competition.
So far so good for all the Wisconsin newcomers. Freshman forward Nela Lopušanová has been as good as advertised, posting five points (three goals, two assists) last weekend to earn WCHA Rookie of the Week. She leads all WCHA rookies in points so far. Fellow rookie Rosalie Tremblay is looking like she’s found her footing, posting a point per game so far this season and mixing in well with the Wisconsin attack.
The proven leaders are also playing well. Seniors Cassie Hall and Kelly Gorbatenko are leading the way offensively and averaging two points per game through the first four contests. Hall is leading the team with five goals, with Gorbatenko close behind with four. I have no doubt that mixing in the talented freshmen with established veteran presence will produce an offense that continues to flourish throughout the year, and they are far from a finished product.
An injury to senior goaltender Ava McNaughton in the season opener was cause for concern, but the alternate captain returned to action for both games against Boston University and is poised to take her place between the pipes against the Buckeyes.
McNaughton has enjoyed the type of success against Ohio State that other goaltenders could only conjure in their dreams. She is 8-4-1 all-time against the Buckeyes with a 2-1 record in NCAA championship games. Her overall goals-against average versus Ohio State is 1.92, with a save percentage of .939. For reference, McNaughton carries a 1.32 goals-against average in her career to go along with a .940 save percentage. Considering all the high-profile meetings between the Badgers and the Buckeyes, Ava has been an absolute star when the lights are shining their brightest.
The Buckeyes bring back two 50-plus point scorers of their own in Hilda Svensson and Joy Dunne, both of whom have posted four goals in four games to this point. Their offensive production won’t be a surprise, but it’s who Ohio State puts in net that remains the question.
Head coach Nadine Muzzerall has taken to a goaltender-by-committee rotation early in the season, deploying Genny Klein, Rowan Houweling, and Taylor Kressin throughout the first four games. Houweling has logged the most minutes with two starts thus far, while Klein boasts the highest save percentage with one start and two appearances. It’s a safe bet the Badgers will see Houweling this weekend, but the rest is up to Muzzerall’s whims.
While the game counts for the standings, the results will do little to dictate what either of these teams becomes as the season rolls on. Wisconsin is replacing more top talent from last year’s roster than Ohio State, so it will be interesting to see how the team handles playing on the road against the best the sport has to offer.
The action gets underway in Columbus at 5:00 p.m. on Friday before coming back for round two on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Both games will air on Big Ten Plus.
Game 1 update
The Badgers fell 2-1 on the road to the Buckeyes in the first game of the series on Friday night, thanks to a go-ahead goal by Hilda Svensson.
Wisconsin was outshot 40-21 on the night, and all three goals in the game came via power play. Cassie Hall gave the Badgers the lead in the second period, marking her sixth goal of the year. But the two third-period goals from Ohio State got them the win, giving the Badgers their first loss of the season.
Now, they’ll try to equalize in Game 2.
Game 2 Info
Date: Saturday, October 10
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Place: Columbus, Ohio | Ohio State Ice Rink
TV: B1G+ | Radio: 1070 AM