MADISON, Wis. – The second-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey team completed the sweep of No. 5 Minnesota with an exhilarating 4-0 victory on Saturday afternoon at LaBahn Arena. 

Kirsten Simms lit the lamp twice in the second period, while Lacey Eden and Maddi Wheeler added two more in the third frame to lift the Badgers (28-4-0, 22-4-0 WCHA) to their 15th-straight win. 

After a scoreless first period, Simms tallied back-to-back goals from the right side to give the Badgers a 2-0 lead over the Golden Gophers (24-7-1, 18-7-1 WCHA). 

Eden continued the fun after sneaking one in on the power play with just under four minutes to go in the third stanza.

Just 21 seconds later, Wheeler sent one soaring to the back of the net to cap off the scoring. 

Ava McNaughton stopped 17 of the shots she faced for her fourth shutout and 14th win of the season. 

Three Notes of the Game
- Thanks to a three-point game, Kirsten Simms is the first player in the country to reach 60 points this season. The sophomore has enjoyed 27 goals while posting 33 assists as well. 
- After posting an assist in Wisconsin's win on Saturday, Britta Curl joins Casey O'Brien and Kirsten Simms as she became the third Badger this season to hit 50 points. 
- Wisconsin outshot Minnesota 31-17, including a 14-6 difference in the second period. Wisconsin also had 22 blocked shots. 

Straight from the Rink
Head Coach Mark Johnson
On the successful weekend:
"It was a good weekend. I'm real proud, they're a good team. [Minnesota] came in very hot and we were going to get tested, and we weathered it and came away with the win last night in overtime, then a real solid effort today. Ava (McNaughton) didn't get tested a ton but she looked composed, she looked comfortable and for a young freshman, she's beaten them twice. It was a good, good weekend."

Sophomore forward Kirsten Simms
On the team continuing to play good hockey:
"I think this is huge for us. It just shows a momentum shift for us because it shows the depths of our team, especially against Ohio State next week and what we can bring if we play our game, we can take any team."

On staying focused throughout the whole Border Battle:
"Every time it's a border battle, we're always pretty hyped up for those, so it contributed to us being in there and playing our game right from the jump."

Freshman goaltender Ava McNaughton
On shutting out one of the top teams in the country:
"It's definitely inspiring for me and a confidence builder. Obviously [they're] a top-five team in the nation and to be able to get a shutout against that team is just a great confidence booster for me especially."

Up Next: The Badgers will wrap up the WCHA regular season next weekend with a series at LaBahn Arena against the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, while the series finale on Saturday will begin at 8 p.m. Both games are sold out, but fans can listen to the games on The Game 1070 AM. Friday's game will stream live on Big Ten Plus while Saturday's contest will air live on Big Ten Plus.