STANDINGS | COMPOSITE SCHEDULE

COLUMBUS, Ohio (ohiostatebuckeyes.com) - The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated No. 15 Mercyhurst 5-1 to highlight Tuesday night's Western Collegiate Hockey Association action. 

The win over the Lakers (2-6-1, 0-0-0 AHA) was highlighted by Buckeye goaltending milestones, including graduate alternate captain Amanda Thiele becoming the winningest goaltender in program history and freshman netminder Genny Klein playing her first career minutes.

How it Happened

• Ohio State was the first team to score for the 10th time this season. Captain Jenna Buglioni gave the Buckeyes the 1-0 lead at 4:56 into the game off a mistake from Mercyhurst deep in its own zone. The Lakers attempted to clear the puck from the slot in front of their own goal but mishandled the puck and Buglioni was there to one-time it into the back of the net.
• The Buckeyes added their second goal of the period at 8:49. Emma Peschel sent a pass across the Mercyhurst zone to Emily Zumwinkle, who swung it back to Jocelyn Amos at the top of the slot. Amos took the shot that made its way past Laker goaltender Magdalena Luggin to double the Buckeyes' advantage.
• Ohio State held Mercyhurst without a shot on goal at the under-10 media timeout and allowed just one in the period.
• The Buckeyes extended their lead three minutes into the second period. Jordyn Petrie won back the puck in her own zone and skated down the ice alongside Joy Dunne and Peschel. The Lincoln, Neb. native gave up the puck to Dunne as they crossed into the Mercyhurst zone and Dunne lit the lamp at 3:31.
• Klein took over in net for Thiele 3:52 into the second period. She made seven saves in the frame, including three stops on a Mercyhurst 5-on-3 power play.
• After offsetting minor penalties were called on the Buckeyes and Lakers at 16:55 in the third, each team scored in the 4-on-4 situation. Nearly halfway through the penalty, the Buckeyes were moving the puck around the Mercyhurst zone and Petrie got the puck in the slot and sailed a shot past Jorden Mattison at 17:43. Thirty seconds later, Mercyhurst's Thea Johansson tallied her team's lone goal.
• Ohio State's final goal was scored by graduate forward Maddi Wheeler at 15:20 in the third. The teams were skating 4-on-4 again and Wheeler took the puck from inside the Buckeyes' zone into Lakers territory and finished over the glove of Mattison.   

Game Notes

• With the win, Amanda Thiele has earned a 5-1-1 record on the season and a program-record 58 career wins. The previous record of 57 was held by Andrea Braendli (2018-22).
• Buglioni has scored in the Buckeyes' last three games. She is now tied with Peschel with a team high 13 points on the year.  
• Klein finished the game with 36:08 minutes played and 13 saves in goal.
• Petrie is now the sole leader among rookies nationally in goals (8) and points (11). She has scored four goals and six points in the last four games for the Buckeyes.
• Swiderski tallied her first multi-point game of her Buckeyes career with two assists in the win. Peschel (2A) and Petrie (1G, 1A) also recorded multi-point games.
• Tuesday's win gives Ohio State the 5-4-0 advantage in the all-time series against Mercyhurst.

Statistically Speaking
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 47, Mercyhurst 15
Saves: Mercyhurst (Mattison, Luggin) 46, Ohio State (Thiele, Klein) 14
Power Play: Ohio State 0-4, Mercyhurst 0-4
Faceoffs: Ohio State 37, Mercyhurst 31
Ohio State Scoring: Jordyn Petrie (1-1-2), Peschel (0-2-2), Swiderski (0-2-2), Amos (1-0-1), Buglioni (1-0-1), Dunne (1-0-1), Wheeler (0-1-1), Zumwinkle (0-1-1)

Up Next
Ohio State hosts the 2024 Women's Ice Breaker Tournament Oct. 25-26 at the Schottenstein Center. The Buckeyes will play Stonehill Friday at 3 p.m., following the match up between Cornell and Penn State.

Saturday a consolation game will be played at 1 p.m. and the championship game is set for 4 p.m.

For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league at WCHA.com and on its social platforms:  X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.