The No. 1 Ohio State ladies’s ice hockey workforce could have its home opener in opposition to St. Cloud State on Friday. Credit: Gabe Haferman | Lantern File Photo
When the No. 1 Buckeyes ladies’s ice hockey workforce face off in opposition to St. Cloud State Friday, it is going to be Ohio State’s first alternative to protect home ice in its nationwide championship-defense run.
The top-ranked Buckeyes (2-0-0) glance to construct momentum in their first home series of the 12 months in opposition to St. Cloud State (2-0-0) as they take at the Huskies Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. on the Ohio State Ice Rink.
Graduate defenseman and reigning Western Collegiate Hockey Association Defender of the Year Sophie Jaques stated the chance to play in entrance of the home crowd has been a riding issue in the workforce’s preparation.
“I think we’re all definitely super excited; we love to play at home,” Jaques stated. “Being out there in front of our home crowd is super exciting, and I think there’s a lot of energy going into this weekend.”
The groups remaining battled Feb. 26, when the Buckeyes swept the WCHA quarterfinals series in opposition to the Huskies, pouring on 9 objectives between the 2 video games whilst retaining St. Cloud State scoreless in each and every. Ohio State boasted a 5-0 report as opposed to the Huskies remaining season, outscoring St. Cloud State with a mixed rating of 30-5.
The Huskies swept their first common season home series remaining weekend as opposed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and reasonable 4 objectives on 27.5 photographs a recreation heading into the series in opposition to the Buckeyes.
Senior ahead Jennifer Gardiner stated the Buckeyes will proceed to lean on flexible play from their protection to neutralize the Huskies offense, which has discovered luck early in the season.
“I would argue that we have the best D-core in the country, so for sure I would trust them in any game,” Gardiner stated. “They’re very offensive too, so I think being sound in our own zone, but then joining the plays.”
The Buckeyes are coming off a street sweep in opposition to Minnesota State (0-2-0), which noticed a dramatic two-goal deficit erased in a 5-4 comeback win in the general duration of Saturday’s recreation after narrowly beating the Mustangs 2-1 in the season opener Friday.
Gardiner stated a comeback win early in the season is a testomony to the workforce’s preparation, and head trainer Nadine Muzerall’s religion in the workforce by no means wavered, regardless of being down early in Saturday’s recreation.
“I think she believed in us the whole way,” Gardiner stated. “Everyone in the room was confident as well. We knew we could do it; we just had to keep finding our chemistry within our lines and within our team.”
Gardiner stated the paintings the workforce is placing in day in and day trip in preparation for the series is a mirrored image of the championship tradition they appear to construct on.
“From Monday to Thursday, it’s war out there and everyone is fighting,” Gardiner stated. “I think by the time games come on the weekend, everyone is ready and prepared and it’s go time.”
The series will probably be streamed on BTN+, and Saturday’s recreation will characteristic a party of the 2022 nationwide championship victory following on-ice heat ups. Puck drop Friday is set for six p.m.