The Ohio State Buckeyes won a national title with a veteran laden roster, but it was rookie Joy Dunne who provided the joy by lifting her team to a championship.

It was pure joy for Ohio State University when Joy Dunne scored her late third period winner for the Buckeyes, who beat Wisconsin 1-0 to become the 2024 NCAA women's hockey national champions.

"I scored the goal, but there was so much in that game," said Dunne. "Blocks, great saves. It took a team. It took a village. It took behind the scenes work. It took our Monday practices. It took everything."

Dunne capped off a memorable season at Ohio State where she was named the WCHA Rookie of the Year and NCAA Rookie of the Year. The 5-foot-11 forward recorded 24 goals and 42 points in 39 games this season with the Buckeyes.

She obviously earned the trust of coach Nadine Muzerall, who had Dunne out not only while Ohio State was looking for their first goal, but also in the final minute while Ohio State was defending their 1-0 lead.

Dunne's 24 goals were a team high for Ohio State this season.

Next year she'll be counted on to take an even larger roll with the Buckeyes who will see a massive class of graduates head for the PWHL including veterans like Hannah Bilka and Jennifer Gardiner up front.

Dunne, who comes from a hockey family, may turn out to be the best player in her family when it's all said and done, which is impressive considering her older sister Jincy Roese is a former Ohio State captain, has represented USA at the World Championships and Olympics, and currently plays for PWHL Ottawa, and her older brother Josh has played a handful of games in the NHL and currently plays in the AHL.

After captaining USA's U-18 national team in 2023, and winning an NCAA national championship and rookie of the year honors in her first year with Ohio State, it's been a season of pure joy for Dunne and the Buckeyes. And with three years of NCAA eligibility remaining, the sky is the limit for Joy Dunne.