Wisconsin women's hockey before the St. Lawrence game
David Stluka

Women's Hockey

Five Things to Know: No. 2 Badgers face No. 3 Raiders in NCAA Frozen Four semifinal

UW looks to advance to third national championship game in four years

MADISON, Wis. – For the 15th time in school history, the second-ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team is heading  to the Frozen Four where they will face No. 3 Colgate in the semifinal round of the 2024 NCAA Women's Frozen Four on Friday night. Puck drop at the Whittemore Center Arena in Durham, New Hampshire, is set for 6:30 p.m. 

Fans can watch the action on ESPN+ or listen to the game in Madison on The Game 1070 AM. 

The winner will move on to face the victor of Ohio State/Clarkson on Sunday at 4 p.m. CT for the national championship, which will air on ESPNU. 

Tickets for the 2024 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four are still available and can be purchased here or in-person at the Whittemore Center Box Office. Fans are encouraged to join the Badgers at Libby’s Bar and Grill from 4-7 p.m. ET on Friday for a pregame fan event, including free t-shirts and other swag. The UW Band and Bucky will be in attendance before heading to the Whittemore Center Arena for the 7:30 p.m. ET semifinal game 

In addition, fans are welcome to join Bucky Badger and the UW Band at 4:55 p.m. ET to welcome the women's hockey team as they enter the Whittemore Center Arena for the NCAA "Red Carpet Arrival".

Loading...

How To Follow

Wisconsin vs. Colgate

Casey O'Brien and Kirsten Simms celebrate a goal against St. Lawrence on March 16, 2024

1. LAST TIME OUT

The second-ranked Badgers earned a spot in 2024 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four after posting a 4-0 triumph over St. Lawrence on Saturday afternoon in a NCAA Regional Final at LaBahn Arena. 

Laila Edwards tallied a pair of goals, while Casey O’Brien and Sarah Wozniewicz each added a score as the Badgers shut out the Saints in the final home game of the season. 

O’Brien’s goal scored 16 seconds into the game marked the fifth fastest goal to start an NCAA tournament game. Freshman netminder Ava McNaughton stopped 25 of the shots she faced for her 19th win and fifth shutout of the season.

Wisconsin women's hockey sophomore celebrate a regional title

2. PROTECTED HOME ICE

The Badgers remain undefeated in NCAA tournament games played at LaBahn Arena, posting a 7-0-0 record in games played at the 11-year-old rink. 

UW has not given up a goal in 302:53 minutes in NCAA tournament games played at home, which dates all the way back to the 2014-2015 season. The offense has also been stellar in their seven NCAA tournament wins at LaBahn, with the team outscoring its opponents 32-2.

3. BACK TO THE FROZEN FOUR

For the second year in a row, Wisconsin is headed back to the NCAA Frozen Four for a chance to win the program’s eighth national title. This marks the Badgers’ 15th trip to the NCAA Frozen Four, which is tied for the most in NCAA history with Border Battle rival Minnesota. 

UW is stellar when playing in Frozen Four tournaments out east, as five of UW’s national championship titles have been won in the Eastern Time Zone. 

4. DUO NAMED TO PATTY KAZ TOP-THREE

For the first time in program history, a pair of Badgers have been named top-three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in the same season as linemates Casey O’Brien and Kirsten Simms received the honors. 

Simms leads the country in scoring with 74 points, while O’Brien ranks close behind in second with 71 points. This year’s Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which is the highest individual honor in women’s college hockey, will be handed out at the Whittemore Center Arena in Durhan, New Hampshire on Saturday, March 23. The announcement will take place at 11:30 a.m. CT live on NHL Network.

University of Wisconsin vs Long Island University, Women’s Hockey, NCAA Regional Round, Hamilton, NY, Thursday, March 9, 2023. Todd Slabaugh

5. AGAINST COLGATE

Wisconsin and Colgate have met just twice in program history, with the Raiders and Badgers each picking up a win. The two first faced each other on March 17, 2018 in an NCAA semifinal game at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Badgers came up short, falling 4-3 in double-overtime to the Raiders. Colgate then went on to drop the national championship game, 2-1, in overtime to Clarkson. 

Most recently, the two teams met in the NCAA regional final game last season with the No. 6 Badgers upsetting the No. 3 Raiders, 4-2. Casey O'Brien, Vivian Jungels and Laila Edwards each lit the lamp in the game, helping UW earn a trip to their 14th Frozen Four.