The top ranked University of Wisconsin Badgers were 18.9 seconds away from falling to arch rival Ohio State. With the women’s hockey NCAA national title on the line, Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson asked, “who wants it?” Kirsten Simms raised her glove, and the rest is history.
Trailing 3-2 to Ohio State in the dying seconds of the game, Wisconsin challenged a play that occurred in the Ohio State crease. They believe an Ohio State player had prevented a goal by placing their glove on the puck in the crease. The officials agreed and awarded Wisconsin a penalty shot.
That’s when Simms answered the question, and the challenge
It was in that moment that Johnson, the winningest coach in NCAA women’s hockey history asked who on his team wanted the puck. Looking at the Wisconsin bench you’d see Patty Kazmaier winner Casey O’Brien, American national team members including Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards, Lacey Eden, and Simms.
With her teammates chiming in offering Simms up for the moment, she raised her glove and volunteered.
Heading down the ice, Simms’ quick hands froze Ohio State goaltender Amanda Thiele as she cut back to her forehand and slid in the game tying goal.
She wasn’t done there.
Less than three minutes into overtime, a rebound popped out onto Simms’ stick, and she made no mistake beating Thiele to score the overtime winner. The goal gave Wisconsin the NCAA national title.
How the game got to overtime
For much of the game it looked like Ohio State was in control. Joy Dunne opened the scoring for Ohio State 8:22 into the first period. After Laila Edwards answered for Wisconsin on the power play, Sloane Matthews ripped a wrister top shelf to give the Ohio State Buckeyes their second lead of the game. Only 10 seconds into the second period, defender Emma Peschel jumped on a loose puck firing a slap shot over Wisconsin netminder Ava McNaughton’s glove to give Ohio State a 3-1 lead.
Minutes later, Caroline Harvey pulled Wisconsin within one, which is how the game would stay until Simms stepped forward.
Another chapter in the historic rivalry
Last season is was Ohio State who crushed the Wisconsin Badgers in overtime. Heading to extra time tied 0-0, Ohio State’s Joy Dunne found the puck and buried the game winner for a 1-0 win.
The season prior Wisconsin beat Ohio State 1-0 in the national final.
For the third straight year the two teams played for a title, ending in a one-goal decision.
