Kirsten Simms’ third-period goal for Wisconsin puts down Minnesota State’s rally hopes

Their goal less than a minute after Minnesota State had scored helped the second-ranked Badgers to a 5-2 win in Mankato, Minnesota.

It was the second game in a row that Simms had responded to an opponent’s goal in the third period. Last Saturday, she scored a 2:20 after Bemidji State cut UW’s lead to one goal.

Taylor Otremba passed Badgers defenseman Katie Kotlowski to the puck and scored in the third goal on Friday, 16:09. But Simms scored 55 seconds later to give UW some breathing room.

The freshman has scored in four straight games and has a point in their last five.

The Badgers (14-2-1, 10-0-1-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) improved to 35-1 in their last 36 games against the Mavericks (7-10-0, 5-9-0-1) . UW have a 166-31 lead in these games.

Here are three things that stood out and the three stars.

Playing at the LaBahn Arena will be nothing new to most Wisconsin hockey players

Maddi Wheeler and Caroline Harvey didn’t miss out on their shots from the slot in the second half.

Wheeler gave UW a 2-1 lead with a one-timer after a pass from Lacey Eden from the left. Harvey added to the lead by finding open space in the center of the zone and hammering home a puck overplayed by Laila Edwards.

The Badgers have scored in the second half in all but two of their 17 games this season. The only two games they haven’t scored in the middle frame are their two losses: Sept. 22 at Penn State and Oct. 28 at Minnesota Duluth.

Wisconsin women’s hockey is nearing the top spot in the national rankings

The Badgers won the opening faceoff and turned it into a Jesse Compher goal in just 21 seconds as Mavericks goaltender Lauren Barbro slowly returned to the top of the net after a failed endgame.

But Minnesota State won 13 of the last 14 faceoffs in the opening stages. The 2-to-15 win rate was the Badgers’ worst for a regular period this season.

The Mavericks’ equalizer came eight seconds after one of their first-half faceoff wins. Alexis Paddington chased a puck to the right of the net and had her centering pass deflected by Badgers goalie Cami Kronish’s outstretched stick and her legs.

UW went to faceoffs 9-6 in the second half and 9-8 in the third.

Early goals lead Wisconsin women’s hockey to another victory at Bemidji State

Eden’s assist for Wheeler’s goal extended their points streak to 11 games. She has 14 points in that span.

Casey O’Brien also extended a points streak to six games with an assist in the second period.

#3: Harvey led the Badgers with five shots on goal and nine tries.

No. 2: Eden has four games by more than a point in their 11-game streak.

Number 1: Simms scored her fourth multi-point game of the season.

State of Minnesota 1 0 1 – 2

First period: W — Compher 8, :21. MS – Paddington 4 (Akervik), 13:43.

Second period: W – Wheeler 6 (Eden, O’Brien), 1:03; Harvey 7 (L.Edwards, Simms), 16:44. Penalty: Seifert, MS, 12:00 p.m.

Third period: MS – Otremba 6, 3:51. W—Simms 8 (L. Edwards), 4:46; Eden 12 (Bookbinder, O’Brien), 8:35. Penalty: Helgeson, W, 14:33.

Saves: W (Cronic 3-4-10) 17; MS (Barbro 12/10/15) 37. power games: W 0-for-1; MS 0-for-1. att — 157