Champions once again.The Ohio State women’s ice hockey team, which awaits status as a varsity team in the fall of 1999, topped the league this past weekend in Chicago.The Buckeyes, who were seeded fourth in the league, entered the two-year-old league tournament as the defending Central Collegiate Women’s Hockey Association Champions. By defeating Western Michigan, 5-4, in sudden-death overtime, they remained the league champions for a second consecutive season.”After that final goal they knew we were carrying that cup back home again,” OSU coach Thor Bauer said. “This weekend we declared to everyone that we deserve that cup and it will stay at Larkins Hall for another year.”The Buckeyes, who hold a 4-4-2 overall record, have never beaten the undefeated Western Michigan team in the regular season.The game started out slow for the Buckeyes, who fell behind in the middle of the second period, 4-1, before Bauer called a timeout.”I called a timeout because we were down by three and the girls needed to get back in the game,” Bauer said. “After that timeout, they answered my call and started playing like they know how to play.”All lit-up, the Buckeyes started to rally. Center Becca Nally and forward Amy Mulvey both scored two goals, deadlocking the score at 4. Nally scored the tying goal with 2:30 left in regulation play.”The girls had a great weekend and never gave up even when they were down by three against Western Michigan,” Bauer said. “They had nothing but great offense.”With only five seconds remaining in regular game time, Western Michigan received a roughing penalty, which put the Buckeyes at an advantage going into overtime.Gaining from the two-minute penalty, Mulvey, who received a pass from forward Pam Kobryn, scored with 20 seconds remaining on the power play.Forward Christa Horst contributed to the Buckeye offense, and defensemen Lori Bolton and Trish Wilkins each pitched in an assist during the game.