(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON – The No. 1 Wisconsin women’s hockey team (31-3-2, 23-3-2) advanced to the WCHA Final Faceoff after a 2-1 overtime win against the Bemidji State Beavers.
Laila Edwards’ overtime goal clinched UW’s spot in the WCHA Final Faceoff, running from March 5-7 at St. Thomas’ Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in St. Paul, Minn..
The Badgers and Beavers traded goals throughout regulation, with two lead changes and two ties.
The first period was scoreless for both teams before the Beavers tallied the first goal of the game, drawing goaltender Ava McNaughton out of the crease, before scoring for the first time after 33 minutes.
The Badgers quickly responded however, as sophomore Maggie Scannell redirected an Ava Murphy shot into the net just two minutes after the initial score.
The game was complicated even further when both teams had a goal revoked. The Beavers thought they had the lead, before a UW offsides challenge made things 1-1 again. Just 17 seconds later, a would-be Kirsten Simms goal was called back for the same reason.
Finally, the Badgers managed to take the lead with less than 30 seconds remaining in the second period, with Adéla Šapovalivová tipping in a Caroline Harvey shot.
Wisconsin held off Bemidji State for most of the third period, but an extra attacker off Bemidji State’s empty net allowed the Beavers to tie things up with 25 seconds of the third period, sending the game to overtime.
It didn’t take long for the Badgers to answer back though. In unlimited, five-on-five, overtime, Laila Edwards found the puck with plenty of space between her and the goaltender, firing a shot that reached the back of the net just one minute into the extra period.
The Badgers outshot the Beavers 46-12.
Notes to Know
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The Badgers are now 68-18 in the WCHA Tournament all-time, and have won their last 18 WCHA Tournament home games.
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Head coach Mark Johnson, is now two wins away from becoming the first ever NCAA women’s hockey coach to reach 700 wins.
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Maggie Scannell has scored six goals in UW’s six games against Bemidji State this season.
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Caroline Harvey is now five points away from becoming the 10th Badger with 200+ career points.
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