Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Suffers National Championship Heartbreaker

Wisconsin women’s hockey entered this season with seven national championships, the most of any Division I hockey team. Despite the Wisconsin Badgers legacy, nothing is guaranteed any season. This season ended the same as last, though: with Ohio State and Wisconsin in a 1-0 national championship game. However, the result was not exactly the same.

Badgers and Buckeyes Blanked in First Period

The country’s two highest-scoring offenses were kept off the scoreboard through the first 20 minutes. After an evenly-matched first period, Ohio State held the advantage in shots on goal 8-7. Both teams played hard defensively, blocking six shots. It was the Buckeyes defense, however, that had the most impressive performance.

Only one shot attempt in the first period for Wisconsin's top-line forwards, Laila Edwards, Casey O'Brien and Kirsten Simms. Simms' try with about 3:30 left was blocked.

— Todd Milewski (@ToddMilewski) March 24, 2024

The Badgers’ top line failed to generate a shot on goal in the first. Ohio State held the country’s two top scorers to zero chances and only one shot attempt.

Entering the game with 75 points on the season, UW winger Kirsten Simms leads the nation in scoring with 1.97 points per game. In the Frozen Four semifinal win over Colgate, the WCHA Player of the Year scored her 33rd goal of the season to tie the top mark for goals among all DI skaters. She is the first Wisconsin women’s hockey player in 10 years to score 30 or more goals in a single season.

Wisconsin Women’s Hockey and Ohio State Fail to Capitalize on Great Chances in Second Period

Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey and the St. Lawrence Saints line up for the playing of the national anthem before their NCAA Tournament regional final game. Photo Credit: Kedrick Stumbris

Defense prevailed once again in the middle period. Despite the lack of scoring, there was no lack of drama. The second period featured Ohio State and Wisconsin creating their most dangerous scoring chances yet.

Only 25 seconds into the period, Badgers rookie goaltender Ava McNaughton was saved by a goaltender’s best friend: the goalpost. Buckeyes top-line center Jocelyn Amos nearly tallied her 16th goal of the season when she got the puck on the left wing. The two-time Hockey Canada U18 World Championship Team captain rocketed the puck over McNaughton’s shoulder but was just off-target. A loud clank of the puck off the crossbar kept the game at a scoreless tie.

It took nearly the remainder of the period, but Wisconsin women’s hockey also had its scoring chance. UW’s top line created a breakaway opportunity for center Casey O’Brien with just under two minutes remaining. A pass at the hash marks from Simms left O’Brien alone in front of Ohio State goaltender Raygan Kirk. The pair of WCHA all-conference honorees locked in, but Kirk got the better of O’Brien. The Milton, Massachusetts native was denied a golden opportunity to add to her second-best in the country 73 points.

Ohio State Buckeyes Strike First in National Championship Game

With 7:12 remaining in regulation, Ohio State broke the scoreless tie. The Buckeyes won the apparent race to one in a game that featured ample opportunities denied by impeccable goaltenders.

THE BUCKEYES BREAK THE SILENCE!!!!

📺 ESPNU#WFrozenFour x @OhioStateWHKY pic.twitter.com/O7S1rw5c36

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 24, 2024

Ohio State turned a near Badgers breakaway opportunity into a rush of their own. Thanks to a drop pass from OSU forward Hannah Bilka, Joy Dunne got the puck all alone on the right circle. The National Rookie of the Year took advantage of the opportunity and a lucky bounce that redirected her shot off a Badgers stick and sent the puck over McNaughton’s shoulder.

Wisconsin managed to generate a few scoring opportunities late with an extra attacker, but it was not enough. Kirk, the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, stopped all 28 shots she faced to deliver Ohio State its second national championship in three seasons.

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