Senior goaltender Raegan Kirk spoke about the national championship shutout victory during the Frozen Four press conference in Durham, New Hampshire on Sunday.Credit: Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
In May 2021, Raegan Kirk needed to find a new home.
Her team at Robert Morris University had just eliminated its women's and men's ice hockey programs to cut costs. Three years later, after arriving at Ohio State, the senior goaltender recorded her shutout victory in her final collegiate game on Sunday in Durham, New Hampshire, giving her Buckeyes a 1-0 national lead. brought victory.
“Freshman, I think it's hard to believe that you're going to be sitting here today,” Kirk said.
Even after finding a home with the Buckeyes, Kirk's path to becoming Frozen 4 Most Valuable Player was a long and arduous one. Ohio State head coach Nadine Museral said she is happy to have Kirk on the roster in 2021, but he cannot guarantee playing time.
“When we hired her, we knew her value and how great she was,” Muselal said. “She was so interested in us that I had to get serious with her and say, 'Hey, now we have two goalies competing for No. 1. '' He'll probably come in third or fourth, which is fine if he wants that position, but he'll have to strive for the number one spot. ” She has done it very well in her last few years and winning the title with her cheers just shows her character and persevering determination. ”
In his first season at Ohio State, Kirk appeared in three games, allowed four goals, and saved 85.7% of the shots he faced.
Kirk sat behind Amanda Thiele, who played in 22 games, including Ohio State's first national championship win over Minnesota-Duluth, and Andrea Brendli, who played in 11 games.
For the next two seasons, Kirk shared net time with Thiele after Brendli graduated and transferred to Boston University. Both Kirk and Thiele won the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Goaltender of the Week award multiple times, but only one of them was eligible to start in the postseason.
In the 2022-23 season, Thiele earned that recognition by recording a decrease in his scoring average and an increase in his save percentage. This season, it was Kirk. The senior goaltender earned All-WCHA Second Team honors with six shutouts during the regular season.
“It was really tough,” Muselal said during the WCHA tournament quarterfinals on March 2. “We have four goaltenders, but there's tough competition, especially between Thiele and Kirk, and it's making all four of them tougher and stronger.” Kirk has been very consistent this year. As a result, we discussed it as a staff member and decided to support her. ”
From then on, Kirk never looked back. She was at her best when her light shone brightest, posting four shutouts and a .942 save percentage in the postseason.
Kirk made 26 saves in the national title game against Wisconsin, making him the second-highest scoring offensive line in the nation. She had to fend off shots from Badger stars like Patty Kazmeier Award finalist Kirsten Sims and Casey O'Brien, but was without graduate defenseman Hadley Hartmets, who left with an injury in the second period. Ta.
Kirk said she relied on her preparation during the most stressful moments.
“You have to give them credit,” Kirk said. “That was probably the best defense we've ever played. But for me, we practiced breakaways yesterday. We knew this was going to happen, and just repeating it, making save selections and reads. It just makes me more confident.”
With 7:12 left in regulation time Sunday, freshman forward Joy Dunn scored the first and only goal of the game. As her Buckeye fans celebrated, Kirk knew her team was still counting on her to maintain the lead.
“For me, every time I score, I say to myself, 'I have to try harder now,'” Kirk said. “Especially in the last few minutes of the game, I just have to stick to the checklist that I have for myself to stay in rhythm and stay mentally focused, even if the clock is ticking and the goalie is being pulled. Even so.”
In the final seven minutes of championship play, Kirk made three saves and had one shot blocked by sophomore defenseman Emma Peschel for the shutout victory. After securing his victory, Kirk praised his team's desire to atone for its 1-0 loss to Wisconsin in last year's championship.
“It's hard to explain in words,” Kirk said. “Last year was a tough year, and I think everyone has a chip on their shoulders this year. You might want to call it a revenge tour, but it's a reminder of how much effort we put in every day. It really means a lot and I'm so proud of everyone.”
