COLUMBUS — The Ohio State women’s hockey team finished off a weekend sweep of No. 1 Wisconsin with a 5-3 win Saturday afternoon at the OSU Ice Rink, the first time the Buckeyes have swept the defending national champions since January 2023.
Junior Hilda Svensson broke a 3-3 tie just 10 seconds into the third period, burying a pass from senior Joy Dunne for the game-winner — her second straight day with the decisive goal after she struck in Friday’s opener. Sophomore Sanni Vanhanen added insurance with her second goal of the season midway through the frame.
The Buckeyes owned the final 20 minutes, outshooting Wisconsin 17-6 and dictating play after the Badgers had seized the middle frame. Wisconsin stormed back from a 3-1 deficit behind freshman Maddy Kimbrel’s first collegiate goal and a power-play tally from senior Laney Potter three minutes into the second period, outshooting Ohio State 12-5 in that frame.
The win moves No. 2 Ohio State to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in WCHA play, and the Buckeyes are expected to ascend to No. 1 in the USCHO and USA Hockey polls next week. Defending national champion Wisconsin fell to 4-2 and 0-2 in the conference.
The Badgers struck first Saturday, with senior Cassie Hall scoring 34 seconds into the game. Ohio State answered with three unanswered goals in a six-and-a-half-minute span. Hall, who has scored in every game this season, finished with a goal and an assist. The series served as an early-season heavyweight clash for the Columbus crowd.