The Wisconsin Badgers made history during this year's NCAA Frozen Four. After beating their WCHA rival, the Minnesota Gophers, in an overtime thriller in the semifinals, the Badgers faced the defending national champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, in the championship game. Ohio State, who defeated Northeastern University in their semifinal game, came into this game as the favorite to win, but were shut down by the Badgers who won the national title 1-0.

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Wisconsin freshman Kirsten Simms scored the only goal of the game about 14 minutes in. This was the first time that the Buckeyes were shut out–not only this season but the first time in 57 games. Even though the Buckeyes were able to outshoot the Badgers 31-22, they were not able to generate offense and were shut down by Wisconsin goalie Cami Kronish, who made 31 saves in the game and was later named the Most Outstanding Player in the Frozen Four. This performance by the Badgers gave them their seventh national title, which is the most by an NCAA women's team. 

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Even though the Buckeyes were not able to pull off being back-to-back champions in this year's Frozen Four, they still had reasons to celebrate. Prior to the championship, Ohio State's Sophie Jaques won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which is awarded every year to the top NCAA Division I women's ice hockey player, making Ohio State history as the first-ever Buckeye to receive the prestigious award.

It was a back and forth, fast paced game that rocked Amsoil Arena in Duluth, Minnesota to the very end. While it was a low scoring game, both teams performed very well and made for a great final to end the 2022-2023 women's ice hockey season. 

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Image Credit: Victory Press

* Originally published on March 22, 2023, by Marissa Massaro