The Badgers brought home some hardware in thrilling fashion on Sunday afternoon.
In thrilling fashion, the Wisconsin Badgers beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 4-3 in overtime to win their second National Championship in three years on Sunday afternoon.
In a game that had fireworks from start to finish, the Badgers overcame some adversity, executing in key moments, with junior Kirsten Simms playing the hero. First, she scored the game-tying goal with just 18.9 seconds left in regulation off a penalty shot before sinking the game-winner in overtime to lead Wisconsin to their record-breaking eighth national championship.
It was a fight from the beginning for the Badgers, as Ohio State got out to an early 1-0 lead, thanks to a short-handed goal from Joy Dunne in the first period. Then, after Laila Edwards got on the board with a goal of her own to equalize things just seconds later off the power play, the Buckeyes began to carve out their lead.
First, Sloane Matthews found the back of the net with an unassisted goal to put the Buckeyes up 2-1, which was the score by the end of the first period. Then, just 10 seconds into the second, Emma Peschel found the net and suddenly the Badgers were down 3-1 in the biggest game of the season.
But, adversity didn’t derail them, as Wisconsin bounced back with a goal from Caroline Harvey to cut the lead to 3-2 as the two sides went to the third period.
After a lot of back-and-forth action in the third period, the Badgers finally caught a break with a power play to end regulation over the final 1:50. Wisconsin seemed to get a good look with under 20 seconds left and successfully challenged that an Ohio State defender had their hand on the puck in the crease, allowing for a penalty shot with just 18.9 seconds remaining.
Kirsten Simms was the beneficiary and she used a number of dazzling moves to manuever past Ohio State goalie Amanda Thiele to score the equalizer, sending the game to overtime tied at 3-3.
The Badgers secured the victory 2:39 into extra time. Eden took a shot that Thiele saved but the rebound bounced onto the stick of Simms who nutmegged a Buckeye to put the puck in the back of the net and seal the come-from-behind national championship win.
Early into overtime, Wisconsin caught a break as Lacey Eden found an opening, firing a shot on the right side that Thiele saved. But, Kirsten Simms was there for the ricochet and squeezed a shot past an Ohio State defender to seal the victory for the Badgers 2:39 into overtime.
Just like that, it was Championship Sunday for the Badgers. Now, we’re on to victory Monday.