NCAA Women’s Hockey Championship review

The Wisconsin Badgers snapped the back-and-forth NCAA women’s ice hockey championship cycle, becoming back-to-back champions last weekend.

Wisconsin defeated Ohio State 3-2 on Sunday to claim the title, its fifth in the last eight years and NCAA-leading ninth in program history.

Coming off a conference title loss to Ohio State, the Badgers entered the tournament as the second seed, receiving a bye past the first round. They dominated Quinnipiac with a 6-0 victory in the quarterfinals to punch their ticket to the Frozen Four.

In State College, they faced No. 3 Penn State in a close game. The Nittany Lions got the initial leads, but Wisconsin was able to finish it less than a minute into overtime with a 4-3 victory to advance to their fourth straight championship game.

The three titles in the past eight years not held by the Badgers belong to the Buckeyes. The two teams have faced off for the trophy for the past four consecutive years, dominating the NCAA women’s hockey scene.

Wisconsin got on the board first, taking an early two-goal lead in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Badgers remained in control for the next 30 minutes and headed into the locker room for the second intermission with a comfortable score.

They took the ice in the third, looking to close the tournament out and pick up the clean win, but Ohio State had other plans. Kassidy Carmichael spoiled Ava McNaughton’s shutout just over three and a half minutes into the final frame.

Jocelyn Amos quickly followed just two minutes later with another Buckeye goal to make the score 2-2 with nearly 15 minutes remaining. The once straightforward, and debatably even boring, game now had everyone on the edge of their seats.

Both teams left it all on the ice, pushing and giving it their all to get the next goal- and the championship title.

It would be unexpected hero Claire Enright who got the game-winning goal, simultaneously elating and devastating the teams and fans clad in different shades of red.

The Buckeyes would not be able to respond again, and Wisconsin became back-to-back champions with the third-period heavy 3-2 victory.

Ava McNaughton won Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, with just a couple of minutes of less-than-perfect play throughout. She recorded a 0.941 Sv% throughout the three NCAA games.

Wisconsin nearly swept the All-Tournament team, with four of the six players coming out of Madison. Joining McNaughton were Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards and Kirsten Simms. All four of those players are also fresh off an Olympic gold medal.

Harvey won the Patty Kazmaier Award, awarded to the most outstanding player in NCAA women’s ice hockey. She was also named MVP at the Olympics, wrapping up her collegiate career on high note after high note before the PWHL draft, where she will likely be the first overall pick.

The Badgers were dominant the entire tournament, with their closest competition against Penn State. Despite the one-goal difference against Ohio State, there were only a few minutes where the Buckeyes truly challenged their authority. The Nittany Lions scored three goals against MOP McNaughton, handing her an 0.880 Sv%, one of her lowest of the entire season.

However, they did what the best do and capitalized on their opportunity, converting when it mattered in OT.

Wisconsin proved its dominance within collegiate women’s hockey once again, and while it will be losing many important pieces, it can challenge for a three-peat next season.

Jenny Karamus is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email jrk6308@psu.edu.