UW vs. Bemidji State Headline Image

Women's Hockey

Five Things to Know: No. 1 Badgers welcome BSU to Madison

Badgers and Beavers meet Thursday and Friday at LaBahn

MADISON, Wis. – Fresh off a sweep at No. 3 Minnesota, the top-ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team returns home to host Bemidji State this Thursday and Friday at LaBahn Arena. Puck drop for both games is set for 7 p.m. and both games are sold out.

Patrons coming to the games should note that parking is available in Lots 29 and 46 for $5 and ADA parking is available in Lot 48 and 87 for $5. 

Fans should give themselves extra time to get to Friday's game as UW's Homecoming Parade will take place on Friday from 6-7:30 p.m. on State Street. 

Fans can watch the action on B1G+ or listen to Paul Braun and Mark Greenhalgh on The Game 1070 AM.

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Wisconsin vs. Bemidji State

Women's Hockey celebrates a goal against Minnesota

1. LAST TIME OUT
The Badgers are coming off a strong border battle showing against Minnesota on the road. Ava McNaughton shutout the Golden Gophers in game one on all 18 shots she faced. Meanwhile, five different Badgers lit the lamp — with four in the third period — to close out game one 5-0.

In game two, the Badgers faced a 3-0 deficit. They chipped away at the Minnesota lead and trailed 3-1 at the end of the second period. The Badgers put together a three-goal third period with a game-winning goal from Casey O’Brien to complete the sweep with a 4-3 game-two victory. Caroline Harvey contributed an assist to every goal in game two

2. HARVEY AND MCANUGHTON EARN WCHA HONORS

A pair of Badgers earned WCHA weekly honors on Monday as Caroline Harvey earned her third WCHA Defender of the Week honor while Ava McNaughton picked up her first WCHA Goaltender of the Week accolade. 

A native of Salem, New Hampshire, Harvey enjoyed a five-assist weekend during the Badgers' sweep at Minnesota. The co-captain assisted on all four of UW's goals in its 4-3 comeback win on Saturday. Her five points paced all WCHA players. 

McNaughton led the WCHA with two wins earning a pair of ranked wins at Minnesota. The sophomore netminder made 18 saves in UW's 5-0 win against Minnesota on Friday with Minnesota’s first road shutout of the Gophers since Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner Ann-Renee Desbeins blanked the Golden Gophers on Feb. 19, 2017. 

The Seven Fields, Pennsylvania, native ranked second in the league in goals-against average (1.51) and total saves (44). 

Sophia Shaver Kunin, Natalie Bucbinder, Mellissa Channell and Sis Paulsen with the Walter Cup

3.  BRINGING BACK THE CHAMPS

 Wisconsin will recognize four members of the 2024 PWHL Champion Minnesota Frost during Friday’s game at LaBahn Arena. Natalie Buchbinder, Mellissa Channell Watkins, Sophia (Shaver) Kunin and Sis Paulsen will be honored for helping MInnesota win the inaugural Walter Cup and Buchbinder, Channell-Watkins and Kunin will drop the puck prior to Friday’s game.

Casey O'Brien

4. MOVING UP THE CHARTS

Casey O’Brien had a weekend to remember as she notched the game-winning goal in UW’s 4-3 comeback win on Saturday and ended the Border Battle with four points. O’Brien notched her 21st career game-winning goal, which ranks fifth in school history with Brooke Ammerman. O’Brien also passed Annie Pankowski for sixth in school history in career points with 207 and moved into a tie for third in school history in career assists with 129 with Brianna Decker. A native of Milton, Mass., O’Brien now sits in a tie for 25th in NCAA history in career assists.
 

The Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team defeats Bemidji in the LaBahn Arena on October 20, 2023 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / UW-Athletics

5. AGAINST THE BEAVERS

The Badgers lead the all-time series against Bemidji State 92-7-5 and enter this weekend’s series with a 13-game winning streak against the Beavers. UW swept BSU in both series last season and outscored Bemidji State 29-1. Casey O’Brien has 28 points against the Beavers while Kirsten Simms (17 points), Lacey Eden (15 points), Laila Edwards (12 points) and Caroline Harvey (10 points) have recorded double-digit points against BSU.