The No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey team (14-1-1) suited up to face No. 2 Ohio State (8-5-3) at Chicago’s Wrigley Field as a part of the first-ever Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series.
With the WCHA regular season series between Wisconsin and Ohio State on the line at 2-1 this game proved to be close.
Within the first minute of the game, Ohio State came up with a goal giving itself an early lead. But it did not take long for Wisconsin to respond. Just five minutes later, fifth-year forward Casey O’Brien stole the puck in the offensive zone and passed it to junior forward Kirsten Simms. Although Ohio State goaltender Amanda Thiele blocked Simm’s shot, junior defender Caroline Harvey capitalized on the rebound to score the equalizer.
Halfway through the first period, Simms took the puck at half-ice where she took off to the net. Despite being knocked down, she still tipped the puck through the Buckeyes goaltender’s five-hole, earning the Badgers their first lead in the game.
Late in the second period Ohio State tied the score 2-2. The score stayed that way until the final period until Ohio State found the net again early in the third, taking a 3-2 lead. Fighting to keep the game close, the Badgers fiercely defended the net on three Ohio State power plays, killing each one.
With only five minutes left on the clock, sophomore defender Laney Potter shot from the point, where sophomore forward Kelly Gorbatenko tipped the puck into the back of the net, leveling the game.
Both teams were unable to score in the 3-on-3 overtime, ending the game in a tie where the extra point would be determined in a shootout. The Buckeyes ultimately won 1-0 after seven rounds of the shootout.
This game marks the first time the Badgers went into overtime this season, and Wisconsin has not allowed more than three goals in a game this season.
Despite losing, Badgers goaltender Ava McNaugton had a season-high of 36 saves.
Up next, the Badgers return home to welcome the Minnesota State Mavericks on Jan. 11 and Jan. 12 at LaBahn Arena.
Clara Strecker is a copy chief for The Daily Cardinal. She also covers state news.
