MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Thanks to a thrilling highlight reel goal from Lacey Eden nearly eight minutes into overtime, the second-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey took down Border Battle rival Minnesota, 4-3, on Friday night at Ridder Arena to secure a spot in the Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff Championship. 

Kirsten Simms scored a pair of goals, while Casey O'Brien tallied a score in the late seconds of the third period to send the Badgers (32-5-0) to overtime. 

Just 38 seconds into play in the Twin Cities, the WCHA Player of the Year, Simms, got the Badgers on the board after a perfect setup from Laila Edwards. 

The Golden Gophers (27-9-2) answered with back-to-back goals to gain the lead.

Unsatisfied with just one goal, Simms tallied her second of the night halfway through the second period, just eight seconds into a Wisconsin power play. 

Minnesota regained the lead with 3:44 remaining in the third period after capitalizing on the power play. 

With just eight seconds remaining in regulation, O'Brien lit the lamp after sending one in behind the net. 

The Badgers battled hard in overtime and were rewarded as Eden found the back of the net after tossing in the puck behind her back to give Wisconsin the win. 

Freshman Ava McNaughton stopped 20 of the shots she faced for her 17th win of the season. 

Three Notes of the Game
- Simms became the first Badger to record 30 goals in a season since the trio of Brianna Decker, Brooke Ammerman and Hilary Knight did so during the 2011-12 season. 
- It marked the second time that Eden has recorded a game-winning overtime goal in the WCHA Final Faceoff as she scored the game winner against Ohio State in the 2021 WCHA Final Faceoff Championship, lifting UW to its ninth WCHA tournament title. 
- The Badgers will advance to their 14th WCHA Final Faceoff championship game and their first since 2021. 

Straight from the Rink
Head Coach Mark Johnson
On the Badgers finding success in overtime to head to the championship game:
"The third period becomes a game of chess. Unfortunately, we take a couple of penalties in the last seven minutes and they capitalized, but again, perseverance, we're able to have a good mindset. We found that way to get the chance and in overtime it comes down to someone making a play, somebody trying to create an opportunity and somebody trying to get the puck to the back of the net. Ava made a couple of real nice saves on a couple of flurries that they had early on, so we lived another day and we have an opportunity to play tomorrow for a trophy."

On gaining experience from challenging games:
"You gain experience from these types of games. Go out tomorrow the same way they went out tonight, just play free. Don't worry about making mistakes, don't worry about this or that, just play free. If we play up to our capabilities, we can be pretty good. It's our job to get mentally ready to go against a really solid opponent. It's up to us what we want to do with that challenge." 

Junior Lacey Eden
On gaining momentum after Casey O'Brien's goal:
"After we got that one with eight seconds left in regulation, momentum was totally on our side. We were buzzing, we were knocking at the back of the next for a while, lots of good chances. Sometimes the puck ends up on your stick in the slot area, Britta made a nice play, and you just get the puck to the net. You never know what's going to happen."

On the opportunity to take down Ohio State in the championship:
"We want it bad. This season, we've had some back and forth games with them and they've come out of it on top more times than we have, but our last game really showed who we are as competitors against them. When we're moving the puck, we're playing with momentum downhill and we're playing our best hockey, I feel confident in our team as a whole."

Sophomore Kirsten Simms:
On the insane atmosphere at Ridder Arena on Friday night:
"That was wild. Especially that goal in the last eight seconds starting from our zone. You never expect to have that clean of a break out and be able to put one in with that little amount of time. After that, I just think the momentum tilted completely on our side and we knew we were going to finish it out." 

Up Next: The Badgers will move on to face Ohio State in the championship game of the Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Ridder Arena. Fans can watch the game in the Madison area on TV-W (Channel 3-2), listen to it on The Game 1070 AM or watch it online via Big Ten Plus.