Ohio State women's hockey admits title game 'vendetta' against Wisconsin

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — No one has to remind the Ohio State women’s hockey team of what happened in their last national championship appearance . With OSU up 3-2, the Buckeyes made a late mental mistake and were called for having too many skaters on the ice, giving Wisconsin a power play.

The ensuing final minutes included an infraction in the crease for covering the puck, a Wisconsin penalty shot that tied the game, and then an overtime goal from Kirsten Simms on the rush that gave the Badgers the title and left the Buckeyes devastated. Ohio State coach Nadine Muzerall has been talking about wanting to play Wisconsin again in the title game and referring to her feelings about the possible rematch as a “vendetta. ” She admitted that her word choice there is very deliberate.

Her husband, Ryan Venturine, once built a 1965 Ford Mustang from scratch and called the car “Vendetta. ” The name resonated with Muzerall. “I loved that name because of the meaning of the word.

I thought it was very fitting because it's also a fast race car that was completely bad--- and pretty. And I just thought it really exemplified who my team is,” Muzerall said. Wisconsin and Ohio State are poised for their fourth-straight women’s hockey national championship matchup, and Muzerall hopes her players embody the look, feel and attitude of that old car.