The UMD Women’s Hockey team falls to Buckeyes in Frozen Four final

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. (KBJR) - The eighth-seeded UMD Women’s Hockey team took on top-seeded Ohio State for the fifth time this season in the Frozen Four Championship on Saturday afternoon at Pegula Ice Arena. The Bulldogs were seeking their sixth title in program history.

Speaking of history, for the first time in Frozen Four history, the Championship game was coached by an all female staff.

After a scoreless first period, the Buckeyes would light the lamp first just five minutes into the second period.

The Bulldogs had an answer later in the second courtesy of Naomi Rogge. With her second straight goal and third point in the Frozen Four, Rogge knotted things up 1-1.

Ohio State closed out the second outshooting the Bulldogs, 20-5, while UMD’s goaltender Emma Soderberg became the new NCAA Tournament single-season saves record holder with 139 total saves. Soderberg also holds the program record for most saves in the NCAA Tournament.

Heading into the final frame, both teams did not waste any time. The Buckeyes fire away just thirty seconds into the third period to take the lead, 2-1.

However, Elizabeth Giguere would follow suit with urgency. The three-time All-American found the twine just over a minute later to tie the game back up at 2-2. That would mark her first goal of the tournament and sixth point.

With just under seven minutes of game play, Ohio State gets past the Olympian Soderberg to reclaim the lead, 3-2.

Ohio State holds on to win their first National Championship in program history, 3-2 the final.

UMD gets out shot, 39-19 while capping of their season 27-12-1 as the 2022 Frozen Four runner-ups.

2022 NCAA All-Tournament Team: redshirt senior forward, Naomi Rogge (2 goals), senior goaltender, Emma Soderberg (82 saves).

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