DURHAM, N.H. – The No. 2 Wisconsin women's hockey team is heading back to the national championship game after dispatching Colgate, 3-1, in the semifinals at the 2024 NCAA Women's Frozen Four on Friday night at the Whittemore Center Arena. 

Sophomores Kirsten Simms, Vivian Jungels and Laila Edwards each found the back of the net as the Badgers (35-5-0) reigned victorious over the Raiders (32-7-1) to earn a spot in the national championship game. 

To no surprise, top-3 Patty Kazmaier Award finalist Simms started off the scoring for the Badgers with a top-shelf shot 11 minutes into the first period. 

The Badgers penalty kill shined in the second frame, as UW killed off two minutes of 5-on-3  Colgate power play. 

Wisconsin's second goal came in the latter half of the third period as sophomore Jungels picked up her fifth goal of the season to double the lead.

The Raiders scored on a flurry late in the third period with an extra attacker, but Edwards sealed the Wisconsin win with an empty netter. 

Ava McNaughton stopped 25 of the shots she faced for her 20th win of the season. 

Notes of the Game
- With two assists in Friday's game, senior Casey O'Brien broke the Badgers' program record for most assists in a season with 50, surpassing Daryl Watts, who posted 49 helpers during the 2019-20 campaign.
- The Badgers advance to their 11th national championship game and third in the last four years. UW owns an NCAA-leading seven national national championship titles and looks to grab the program's eighth on Sunday. 
- UW earned its 35th NCAA tournament win and 18th NCAA Frozen Four victory, both of which pace the entire country. 
- Sophomore Kirsten Simms hit the 75-point mark with her goal on Friday night, which moves her to seventh in the program record book for single-season points. 

Straight from the Rink
Head Coach Mark Johnson
On the overall game:
"We're excited to win the game and move on, and get an opportunity to play the last game of the season. We look forward to Sunday and the challenges that it will present to us, and the whole team and staff are excited for the opportunity." 

On the strong defense in Friday's game:
"I like the way we defended. We call it the house, and then you try to protect it. Being active, blocking shots, having strong sticks, doing some of the little things that in these types of games can go a long way. When you're challenged, you're going to step up to the plate and do some of those things. For a good chunk of the game, we were able to do that, especially when we were down five on three for two minutes." 

Sophomore Kirsten Simms
On the team working collectively for the win:
"Our defense was super solid from start to finish, from blocking shots and getting the puck out, just little chips. The energy coming into the third period and how our team came collectively in that third was huge, and just knowing that we are going to finish it out today."

Sophomore Vivian Jungels
On tallying her fifth game of the season in a clutch moment:
"It started in the defensive zone and making sure that everyone's doing their job getting up the ice. Britta Curl's pass to me was an amazing look by her. (Goal scoring) usually isn't my role on the team, but being a team player, I want to accept any role to the best of my ability." 

Up Next: The Badgers advance to the NCAA Frozen Four championship game, where they will face WCHA rival and top-ranked Ohio State. Puck drop on Sunday is set for 3 p.m. CT, and the game airs on ESPNU. Tickets for the national championship are still available and can be purchased here or in-person at the Whittemore Center Box Office.