The Wisconsin women’s hockey team opened up the best-of-three quarterfinal series of the WCHA playoffs on February 24th. The Badgers scored three goals and shut out the visiting Minnesota State Mavericks to secure the win. Kirsten Simms, Caroline Harvey, and Sarah Wozniewicz were the goal scorers for the Badgers dominant offense.
Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Takes 1-0 Series Lead
After a tough 3-1 loss on senior day in Madison to Ohio State, the Badgers bounced back to open the playoffs with a strong victory over a tough opponent. The Badgers dominated on both sides of the ice allowing 24 shots and shooting 42. Minnesota State struggled to get clean chances all game while Wisconsin worked the puck around to get multiple shots each possession.
The first period was a back and forth battle between both teams. The Mavericks got off seven shots and pushed the pace of play, but could not get anything into the back of the net. Right as the second period kicked off the Badgers got to work and scored a quick two-goal flurry. Freshman Kirsten Simms opened the scoring with an unassisted goal, skipping the puck in from the blue line on an error by the goalie. Simms recorded her 14th goal of the season on the bouncing puck.
Freshman scoring party 💃🏻 KK Harvey assisted by @28mwheeler pic.twitter.com/GiV8YoINWj
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) February 25, 2023
Caroline Harvey scored the next goal for the Wisconsin women’s hockey team, giving them a 2-0 lead. Maddi Wheeler executed a brilliant pass for the assist as Harvey blasted the puck past the right side of the keeper. The Badgers kept the pressure on the Minnesota State Mavericks with a third goal in the second period. Sophie Shirley passed to Casey O’Brien for the shot and Sarah Wozniewicz scored the rebound to give the Badgers a 3-0 lead. O’Brien and Shirley recorded assists on the goal, giving Wozniewicz her fifth goal of the season.
The Wisconsin women’s hockey team kept together their stellar defense in the third period. After maintaining the shut out over the Minnesota State Mavericks, Cami Kronish ended the game for the Badgers with 21 saves. A comfortable victory for the Badgers gives the team plenty of confidence going into the second game tonight, February 25th. Another quick win will advance the Badgers to the semi-finals of the WCHA playoffs.
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