Jaques leads way as Ohio State's women vie for national title

Sophie Jaques isn't superstitious, but she might be a little stitious.
The Ohio State women's hockey star, like any hockey player, can be a creature of routine, doing the same things before each game. But while some players view their pregame exploits as serious as a religion, Jaques sees it more as a way to lighten the mood more than to get her dialed in.
"It's more just to have fun," Jaques said. "I feel like as long as I'm having fun, I've been having success lately. For example, one of my teammates, Madison Bizal, after every on-ice warmup, we ride our sticks off the ice just to get a laugh in before the game and things like that."

Suffice it to say, the defenseman has no reason to change anything, because the fun has continued each and every time she's stepped on the ice for the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes (29-6-0).
As the team eyes its first-ever national championship, a journey that will start when it hosts an NCAA quarterfinal game Saturday at the OSU Ice Rink, Jaques is one of the players leading the way. The senior from Toronto has put up numbers that border on the absurd this year, notching 20 goals and 37 assists on the year for 57 points in 35 games, a total that not only leads the Buckeyes but is third in the country.

Her point total is the best for a true defenseman in NCAA women's hockey in nine seasons, and she also boasts a plus-48 rating. She's been almost impossible to keep off the stat sheet, posting 19 multipoint games, nine three-point games, five two-goal games and two four-point games.
Most recently, she scored twice in the conference title game Sunday, tying the game in the third period and then burying her own rebound on the power play 23 seconds into overtime to give Ohio State a 3-2 victory over Minnesota and its second Western Collegiate Hockey Association conference championship in three seasons.

"This has been super exciting," she said of her success. "Honestly, I never expected anything like this to happen, but it's just been really great to see. Obviously I had goals and stuff coming into the season, but I've more than exceeded the expectations I ever could have set. It's just been a great year.
"Things have finally been clicking for me this year, and everything has been working well. I have had a lot of things go my way points-wise, and just having great teammates around me and focusing on our team's systems have helped me succeed this year."
It helps that Jaques plays in a system that has helped her success, as she's been encouraged to get involved offensively and is a key part of a dominant OSU power play. On the season, she has 201 shots on goal, the most of any OSU player, including 10 in the WCHA title game against Minnesota.
As the year has gone on, the accolades have added up as well. Jaques could become the first Ohio State player ever to win the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which is presented to the top player in women's college hockey each year. She is one of 10 semifinalists for the honor and the seventh player in program history to be up for the award, which will be announced March 26. Jaques also is the third OSU player ever to win the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Away from the ice, the civil engineering major is set to graduate in May and has earned a 3.75 GPA over her four years at Ohio State. The WCHA's Outstanding Student-Athlete award winner this year, Jaques serves as an undergraduate teaching assistant for the College of Engineering's Civil, Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering Department and has been awarded a fellowship for graduate studies at Ohio State in civil engineering.
Jaques is also the co-vice president of SHEROs, an organization that provides a safe space for minority female student-athletes to have open discussions and promote diversity in sport. She is also a volunteer with the 2nd & 7 Foundation in Columbus.
Being able to attend a school that has allowed her to succeed on and off the ice is one reason Jaques picked Ohio State.
"Obviously I was looking at different schools, and Ohio State is just a well-known school around the world, so I knew my degree could be recognized anywhere," she said. "They are one of the best athletic institutions in the country as well as academically, and that's what drew me to the school, and then the second I visited here I fell in love with the campus, the people and the atmosphere. That's when I knew I wanted to come here."
Jaques has more than made her impact, but the chance to make some real history remains. The No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament for the first time, Ohio State has made the Frozen Four in 2018 and 2021 but is yet to make the title game or win a national championship.
This year's squad could be the one to get it done, though, led by Jaques. Paetyn Levis also adds 22 goals among her 49 points, while Liz Schepers is the third Buckeye with at least 20 goals, posting a 21-25-46 line. Jenna Buglioni has added more offense with 18 goals among her 44 points, while Clair DeGeorge (13-29-42), Jennifer Gardiner (14-24-38) and Gabby Rosenthal (19-16-35) are key contributors. The team allows just 1.49 goals per game, with goalie Amanda Thiele boasting a 15-3-0 record, 1.23 goals-against average and .944 save percentage.
Everything seems to be there for the Buckeyes to reach the ultimate goal of any team and win a championship. Ohio State has outscored teams an average of 4.74-1.49 per game, boasts a 36.0 power-play percentage and a penalty kill that operates at 92.9 percent, and on average the Buckeyes top opponents by more than 20 shots on goal per game.
It won't be easy to fend off the Minnesotas and Northeasterns of the world, but Ohio State's chance is at hand.
"We were just talking about it the other day," Jaques said. "It's like a new season starting all over again, and we have ourselves in a great spot. When we play our best game, no one can beat us."