COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey team earned its second WCHA sweep on the year with a 7-1 win over St. Thomas Saturday afternoon at St. Thomas Ice Arena. The Buckeyes (5-1-0, 4-0-0 WCHA) won their fifth straight away game to wrap up their season-opening road stretch.
 
How it Happened

• Ohio State got off to a fast start again, scoring just 2:06 into the game. Kenzie Hauswirth knocked her own rebound past St. Thomas goaltender Olivia King for the early 1-0 lead.
• The Buckeyes outshot the Tommies, 26-15, in the first period with 15 landing on target to take a 1-0 advantage into the first intermission.
• Ohio State was the first to strike in the second period, scoring two goals in under a minute to take a 3-0 lead. Jenn Olivia Mobley and Jenn Gardiner combined for a goal and an assist each, with Mobley scoring at 6:05 assisted by Gardiner, followed by Gardiner scoring at 6:45 off an assist from Mobley.
• St. Thomas added the third goal scored in the seventh minute of the second period with a goal at 6:58 to make the score 3-1.
• Kiara Zanon restored the Buckeyes' three-goal lead at 11:08 in the period. She escaped a battle on the boards behind the St. Thomas goal, skating the puck into the goal crease and finishing stick-side high of King.
• After two periods, Ohio State had recorded 35 shots on goal while keeping the Tommies to 16.
• The Buckeyes recorded three goals in the third period to finish the day with a six-goal lead. Zanon added her second of the game at 12:47 in the final frame. Kelsey King and Cayla Barnes tallied goals at 15:32 and 16:35. Barnes' netted her goal on the Buckeyes' final power play opportunity of the day.

Game Notes

• Ohio State had five multi-point performers in Saturday's game at St. Thomas. They were Hannah Bilka (2), Jenn Gardiner (3), Olivia Mobley (2), Kiara Zanon (3) and Cayla Barnes (2). All but three Buckeye skaters recorded a point in the series.
• Hauswirth and Gardiner scored their first goals of the season against St. Thomas. Hauswirth now has 20 goals for her career and Gardiner has 53.
• Gardiner and Zanon led the team with three points on the day. Zanon also recorded a team-high two goals Saturday against St. Thomas.
• Barnes, Kelsey King and Mobley tallied their first career goals in the Scarlet & Gray sweater on Saturday. Barnes and Mobley both added an assist for two points in the game.
• Amanda Thiele made 20 saves in the game to earn her second win of the season. She is now 2-1-0 on the year and 42-8-1 for her career.
• Ohio State finished 7-for-7 on the penalty kill this weekend against St. Thomas. In the last two series combined, Ohio State has not allowed a power play goal, going 16-for-16 on the penalty kill.
• The Buckeyes improve to 10-0-0 in the all-time series against St. Thomas.
• The game marked the end of a six-game road stretch for the Buckeyes to open the 2023-24 season. Ohio State is now 5-1-0 overall and 4-0-0 in WCHA play headed into next week's home-opener.

Statistically Speaking
Total Shots: Ohio State 91, St. Thomas 33
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 45, St. Thomas 21
Saves: St. Thomas (King) 38, Ohio State (Thiele) 20
Power Play: Ohio State 1-3, St. Thomas 0-3
Faceoffs: Ohio State 32, St. Thomas 24
Ohio State Scoring: Zanon (2-1-3), Gardiner (1-2-3), Barnes (1-1-2), Mobley (1-1-2), Bilka (0-2-2), Hauswirth (1-0-1), King (1-0-1), Peschel (0-1-1), Matthews (0-1-1)
 
Up Next
Ohio State plays its first home series of the season next weekend against Minnesota. The Buckeyes and Minnesota faceoff Oct. 21-22 at the OSU Ice Rink. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday. Ohio State women's hockey games are now ticketed. Fans can purchase tickets online HERE or by contacting the Ohio State Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-GOBUCKS.