The No. 4/5 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team and the No. 1 Ohio State University faced-off for the first time since last March, and the result was a game that was as good as advertised.

It took the final minute of 3-on-3 overtime for the Buckeyes to finally defeat the Bulldogs 3-2 Friday night at the OSU Ice Rink in Columbus, Ohio, handing UMD its first loss of the season.

An even first period spilled into the second, and the Bulldogs carried a penalty kill into the period  that the Buckeyes cashed it in at 1:29 for the night's first lead.  UMD's response came in the form of junior forward Clara Van Wieren, who beat OSU goaltender Amanda Thiele five-hole at the 13:55 mark. A little over three minutes later, the Buckeyes reclaimed the advantage on a goal from Jennifer Gardiner, and after a wild second period, UMD left the ice down 2-1.

Another look at Van Wieren's first goal of the year from behind the goal ?? pic.twitter.com/sA5gcKnzzg

— UMD Women's Hockey (@UMDWHockey) October 21, 2022

UMD equalized OSU as its power play expired 7:56 into the third period, an instant classic goal from Maggie Flaherty. The senior defenseman skated into the zone and took a feed from Mannon McMahon at the circle, levered her shot with a knee to the ice and found the top-left netting to pull the game even at 2-2.
 

Maggie Flaherty being so very Maggie Flaherty. All tied up in Columbus! pic.twitter.com/AEX32Fd34b

— UMD Women's Hockey (@UMDWHockey) October 21, 2022

From there both sides had chances to tuck the game away, but the conclusion couldn't be found in regulation.  OSU finally scored off a breakaway at 4:00.4 of the 3-on-3 overtime – UMD's first setback in extra time on the season in three games.

UMD netminder Emma Soderberg had 29 saves for UMD, while Thiele had 15 for the Buckeyes, who outshot the Bulldogs 32-17 in the game.  Ohio State improves to 7-0-0 overall and 7-0-0 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play.

"In the end 3-on-3 is a wild game out there, especially when it lasts as long as it did, said UMD head coach Maura Crowell after the game. "You know, that was the longest 3-on-3 we've had to date, and so mistakes happen and other teams take advantage. We tried when they made mistakes, and you know they made their time count. But I thought it was a fantastic hockey game, and I'm really encouraged about where our team is right now, you know, being mid-October, going toe to toe with the best team in the country."

The Bulldogs (6-1-0, 2-1-0), will wrap up their series with OSU tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m. CT.