Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Wins Frozen Four Nailbiter

On Friday night, Wisconsin women’s hockey faced the red-hot Colgate Red Raiders in the Frozen Four semifinal. Wisconsin needed to bring its best against an elite Colgate offense only two wins away from a national championship. With a rookie goaltender in net, the Badgers needed to be at their best to clinch a spot in the national title game. Waiting for them in the last game of the season was conference rival Ohio State. The Buckeyes await in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament final.

Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Wing Opens the Scoring

The biggest offensive threat in the country got the Badgers going early. Kirsten Simms entered the Frozen Four as the nation’s leading scorer. The WCHA Player of the Year punished the Red Raiders for leaving her open in the slot on her first shot of the game. With assists from Casey O’Brien and Laila Edwards, Simms picked her spot and hit the top left corner with a perfect snipe.

Are we surprised? SIMMS STRIKES FIRST!

🎥 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/QrhiPQM88F

— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) March 22, 2024

The goal, Simms’ 33rd on the season, moved her into sole possession of eighth place for points in a single season by a Badger. The winger’s 75th point made her the first Wisconsin women’s hockey player to reach that mark since the 2011-12 season.

Defensively, Wisconsin stepped up big in the opening frame. Colgate outshot UW 7-4 in the first period, but the margin could have been larger. Wisconsin skaters blocked seven shot attempts, and six different Badgers gave up their bodies to stop shots.

Special Teams Spectacular in Second Period Showdown

Colgate and Wisconsin boast two of the best power play units in the country, but you would not know it just by watching the second period in this national semifinal. The Red Raiders committed two penalties in each of the first two periods. However, with four opportunities on the advantage, the Badgers power play unit, the third-best in Division I, failed to cash in. The excellent Colgate penalty kill allowed only five shots on goal on the four Wisconsin power plays to keep the score at 1-0.

It was not only Wisconsin that had opportunities with the advantage, though. A delayed penalty called on the Badgers led to a long Red Raiders possession with the goalie pulled. During that possession, Wisconsin committed a second penalty. With UW forwards Maddie Wheeler and Cassie Hall headed to the penalty box, it appeared Colgate, with the second-best power play unit nationally, had a golden opportunity to tie it at one goal a piece.

Ava Mcnaughton everyone…x2.

💻 ESPN+ #WFrozenFour x @BadgerWHockey pic.twitter.com/yVWR9N8tUZ

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 23, 2024

With a couple of miraculous saves, Badgers rookie goaltender Ava McNaughton kept her team in the lead. The Pennsylvania native made three total saves on the penalty kill while her teammates blocked two more shot attempts. Despite having a full two minutes with a two-skater advantage, Wisconsin blanked Colgate. After posting a 25-save shutout in her NCAA Tournament debut against St. Lawrence, McNaughton continued to flash her talent in the Frozen Four.

The Badgers blocked seven shots in total in the middle frame as their defense held the country’s third-highest-scoring offense at bay.

Colgate Pushes Back Against the Badgers Late

Wisconsin women’s hockey needed an unlikely hero to seal the deal. Sophomore defender Vivian Jungels had only scored four times this season. Her fifth goal came in clutch to give UW a two-goal lead. With a head of steam, Jungels entered the zone on the left wing, caught a cross-ice pass from Badgers captain Britta Curl, and buried a wrist shot to beat Colgate netminder Kayle Osborne far side. O’Brien had the secondary assist on the goal, her 50th of the season, setting the program’s single-season record for assists.

BULLSEYE 🎯

💻 ESPN+ #WFrozenFour x @BadgerWHockey pic.twitter.com/U0ufURfPhT

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 23, 2024

The Red Raiders did not go down without a fight, though. The clock was dwindling on Colgate’s season after Wisconsin killed off yet another penalty. Less than a minute after the penalty expired, Colgate head coach Greg Fargo pulled Osborne for the extra attacker. The gambit worked, as Kristina Kaltounkov buried a back-door rebound to beat McNaughton on the Red Raiders’ 24th shot on goal and cut the lead in half.

Colgate would add another pair of shots on net, but it was not enough. Badgers forward Laila Edwards sealed the Red Raiders’ fate with an empty netter with 12 seconds remaining to give Wisconsin the 3-1 victory. Jungels’ goal proved to be her first game-winner on the season.

What’s Next for Wisconsin Women’s Hockey?

A sixth Badgers-Buckeyes matchup awaits in the national championship game. Through five meetings this season, Ohio State has a 3-2 series edge on Wisconsin. The Badgers, however, have won the two most recent games, including a 6-3 victory this postseason in the conference tournament championship game. The national title game airs on ESPNU beginning at 3 PM Central on Sunday, March 24th.

Before the title is won, a Badger will likely receive the Patty Kazmaier Award. The Patty Kaz is given to the top women’s college hockey player. Simms and O’Brien, the country’s top-two leading scorers, are two of the three finalists. The third, Cornell’s Izzy Daniel, has the third-most points in the country, just trailing the Wisconsin duo. The award ceremony will be held at 11:30 AM Central tomorrow, Saturday, March 23rd, and will air on NHL Network.

Wisconsin Women’s Hockey: Frozen Four Homecoming for Harvey

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