Wisconsin women’s hockey wins record best seventh NCAA title

On Sunday for the second year in a row, the NCAA National Championship game was between two teams from the WCHA.

With the University of Wisconsin (UW) women’s hockey team skating away with their seventh (most in women’s college hockey history) NCAA title beating the Ohio State University (OSU) 1-0.

Coming into the game this was Wisconsin’s 10th NCAA national championship appearance, while for the the second straight year, the defending champions Ohio State will play in the last game of the season for a national championship.

OSU won the regular season series between the teams winning three of four, however it was the Badgers that opened the scoring with 6:32 left on the clock with a goal from Kirsten Simms, her second of the tournament.

“Well, honestly it started with my two line mates on the forecheck. Giving us that back pressure at the blue line, then throwing the puck back in on my stick and took the shot when I saw it. That goal brought the energy up for our team,” said UW freshman Simms.

“When you get to the national championship game you know it’s going to be a back and forth game. You know it’s not going to be necessarily highlight real goals you have to get gritty in front of the net,” added OSU forward Paetyn Levis.

The second period was much of the same with the Buckeyes leading in the shot department 22-16, but UW generated 10-5 in the period.

OSU had a powerplay midway through the middle frame but Wisconsin was able to kill it off.

The Badgers also tried to make it a two goal cushion late in the period with extended zone time but Buckeye goalie Amanda Thiele stood strong keeping it a one goal game going into the third.

“Tough game, we knew it would be a back and forth game. I think our girls fought to the end and you know it was hard all year to sustain that number one status,” added OSU head coach Nadine Muzerall.

“You know, I felt good about todays game. We were in a good space, which doesn’t mean you’re going to win. But I felt really good that we’re in that space that we needed to be. It then was just a matter of what the game was going to look like,” said UW head coach Mark Johnson.

The game had that shutdown championship feel in the third period as both teams exchanged chances with Wisconsin coming away with a 1-0 victory.

Backed by a 25 save shutout from senior Cami Kronish, it was a record setting 7th time in school history the team has lifted the trophy.

“This is going to take a few days to process, it’s doesn’t feel like real life. I’m looking back at the start of the season, just seeing how far we’ve come as a group means everything to me,” Kronish stated when asked about her emotions.

“If your going to win these type of games, the goaltender has to play well. I’m just really happy for Cami. She spent a lot of time watching, improving and getting better. When she got on the big stage, she showed everybody that through hard work and determination. Waiting for my Opportunity, good things can happen,” concluded head coach Johnson.