COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey team opened its 2026-27 season with an overtime win over No. 4/6 Penn State Thursday at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pa. The Buckeyes (1-0-0) took a 2-1 victory over the Nittany Lions (0-1-0) to start the year thanks to the game-winning goal from senior captain Joy Dunne 46 seconds into extra time.
 
How it Happened

• The game was scoreless after the first period, but Ohio State dominated puck possession from the start. The Buckeyes put 15 shots on goal in the opening frame to set the pace. Ohio State held Penn State to a single shot on target in the opening frame, which junior goaltender Genny Klein stopped.
• Senior forward Kaia Malachino was first to light the lamp on the 2026-27 season, scoring at 9:16 in the second period. Jenna Raunio took a shot from the top of the slot and the rebound was knocked in by Malachino for the 1-0 Buckeye lead. Ema Tóthová tallied the second assist on the goal.  
• Ohio State held the 1-0 lead into the second intermission with Klein making eight saves in the middle frame.
• Penn State tied the game off the opening faceoff of the third period. The Buckeyes went on to outshoot the Nittany Lions, 19-11, for the next 19:48 but could not break past the Nittany Lions in regulation.
• In overtime, it was the Buckeyes' top line of forwards – Jocelyn Amos, Joy Dunne and Hilda Svensson – who took the ice first for the five-minute 3-on-3 sudden victory period. Amos won the faceoff and it was all Buckeyes from there. The team needed just one shot to end the game as Dunne scored just 46 seconds into overtime with an assist from Svensson.

Buckeye Notables

• Klein earned her sixth career start in Thursday's season opener. She improves to 5-1-0 for her career with the win. She recorded 20 saves in the game for her fourth career 20-plus save performance.
• Malachino's goal was the 40th of her career and 14th as a Buckeye. Tóthová recorded her first career point with the assist on the goal.
• Dunne's overtime game-winning goal in game one is the 21st of her career. Dunne's game-winner comes at a surprise to no one as she already owns the Ohio State record for single season and career game-winning goals.
• Ohio State outshot Penn State, 46-21, in the contest.
• The Ohio State penalty kill went 8-for-8 on the day.
• Six players made their Buckeye debuts in game one. Tóthová, Hayley McDonald and Rylee Bartz skated in their first game in the Scarlet and Gray on forward while Ellah Hause, Sydney Sawyer and Kate Viel earned their first minutes on the blue line. 

Up Next
Ohio State and Penn State close the series Friday, Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).