Unbeaten Streak Continues: Wisconsin Women's Hockey Sweeps St. Thomas
The 2023 NCAA championship trophy is on display in the lobby of LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wis. as the Wisconsin women's hockey team plays Boston College.
© Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
As the chill of winter starts to set in, the Wisconsin Women's Hockey team is anything but cold. The Badgers continue to sizzle, marking a 5-3 and 3-0 win against St. Thomas at the St. Thomas Ice Arena this weekend. This pair of victories showcases the incredible talent on this Wisconsin roster.
Friday Night Festivities
The Badgers kick-started their offense in striking fashion, with Kirsten Simms netting two goals in the opening period. St. Thomas fought back, leveling the scoreline before the first intermission. Katie Kotlowski snapped the tie with a crucial power-play goal, giving Wisconsin a 3-2 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the second period.
It was during the five-minute power plays for each team that the Badgers asserted their dominance. Wisconsin showcased their talents by neutralizing St. Thomas's long power play. Meanwhile, Anna Wilgren seized the opportunity during the Badgers' own long power play, putting them back in the lead with just over a minute left in the period. Not to be outdone, Britta Curl extended made a crucial power-play goal, capitalizing off a rebound.
Wisconsin's Nicole LaMantia (21) and Claire Enright (16) are among the players who are part of a group hug after Kirsten Simms scored during the first period of the NCAA Division I women's hockey final Sunday March 19, 2023 at AMSOI: Arena in Duluth, Minn. Uwice Ohio State 8 March 19 2023
© Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
A Spectacular Saturday
Lacey Eden made sure the Badgers had an early advantage, scoring the only goal for Wisconsin in the first period, her 12th goal of the season.
The Badgers' captain, Britta Curl, continued to demonstrate her scoring ability by netting a goal with only 19 seconds left in the second period. This marked her ninth consecutive game with a goal, tying Olympian Meghan Duggan's school record.
Closing out the trio, Casey O'Brien found the back of the net in the third period to seal the win. This successful game also enabled O'Brien to rank 20th in school history in career points, boosting her to an impressive 132 career points.
With the front line performing flawlessly, it's easy to overlook the crucial role played by the goalie. Ava McNaughton recorded 17 saves, marking her second shutout of the season.
The Next Challenge
The Badgers aren't slowing down. They're gearing up for a series at #10 St. Cloud State next weekend. With a perfect 10-0-0 record, they lead the NCAA in wins, and there's no sign that this momentum is dying down any time soon.
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