Itch scratched; Badgers women's hockey national champs
Wisconsin women's hockey won on the backs of its most-spectacular senior class of all time.
University Park, PA — This Wisconsin women’s hockey graduating senior class had rarely experienced a setback in its time on campus. With four-straight trips to the Frozen Four (with a couple of national titles to boot), a complete re-writing of the program recordbook, and the largest number of wins over four years in program history already, only one thing had eluded these Wisconsin Badgers before Sunday: going back-to-back.
After Wisconsin secured its place in the 2026 Frozen Four, UW senior Kirsten Simms, looking ahead to a fourth-straight national title game against OSU, said her team was “itching for that back-to-back” that the Buckeyes denied the Badgers in 2024.
Itch scratched.
With that senior class being the ones with everything to play for, hoping to leave Wisconsin with win #137 during their time on campus, it was only fitting that Wisconsin’s graduates led the way for the last-second victory.
Even if it was the unlikeliest of heroes.
Badgers flip the script, getting quick start
In the national semifinal, early penalties put the Badgers behind early. Flipping the script in the national title game against a Buckeyes squad that challenges opponents with unrelenting pressure, and was a perfect 23-0 when scoring first, figured to be crucial.
Kelly Gorbatenko gave Wisconsin the fast start it was hoping for. The Badgers alternate captain tipped in an Adéla Šapovalivová wrist shot from the high slot, for a 1-0 lead on her line’s first shift.
With her game-opening strike just 78 seconds after the opening puck drop, Gorbatenko recorded the second-fastest opening goal in championship game history, trailing only Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Sarah Potomak’s goal just 13 seconds into the 2016 title game.
That line, newly configured by Johnson after swapping the wingers Šapovalivová and Cassie Hall centered on Friday, doubled the lead shortly thereafter. Badgers defender Laney Potter crept up into the play and noticed Buckeyes goaltender Hailey Macleod leave the right corner of the net unprotected.
The junior saw Gorbatenko with the puck below the goal line, demanded the one-time pass, and put her team up 2-0 less than eight minutes in.
Ohio State brings it back
Between the time 2-0 lead and the 2-2 tie, Wisconsin went scoreless on four power play opportunities. The Buckeyes limited the Badgers’ chances on the advantage thanks, in part, to OSU’s dominance at the faceoff dot.
Wisconsin goaltender Ava McNaughton kept Ohio State from knotting it up earlier than what eventually came to pass, but the relentless Buckeyes’ pressure eventually broke through.
First, it was OSU rookie Kassidy Carmichael potting the 10th goal of her career, tipping in a puck over McNaughton’s left shoulder after an initial shot from the point by Buckeyes defender Mira Jungåker.
Just over two minutes later, it was Ohio State captain Jocelyn Amos, burying a rebound left in front of the net, with that faceoff bug finally biting Wisconsin.
The Badgers, caught on a long shift, trudged back to their own defensive end after a questionable icing call went Ohio State’s way. Wisconsin center Cassie Hall lost the draw to Amos, OSU defender Emma Peschel took the initial shot, and Amos went back to the front of the net to tie it up.
The unlikely hero
Of the numerous seniors on this Wisconsin Badgers roster, Claire Enright is not among those boasting a laundry list of individual accolades. Before Sunday, she had only scored one game-winning goal in her career, an even-strength tally during a 6-2 blowout of the Minnesota State Mavericks on January 11th, 2025.
The Farmington, Minnesota native’s 20th collegiate goal, just the second game-winner of her career will go down as the most memorable she has ever scored.
Assisted by her fellow graduating classmates, Marianne Picard and Caroline Harvey, Enright hit the back of the net for the first time since Valentine’s Day.
Wisconsin hung on, despite the Buckeyes’ attempts at a last-minute comeback with the goaltender pulled, and put its most spectacular senior class in the record book one more time.
This story will be updated.
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