DULUTH, Minn. – Senior Sarah Wozniewicz scored in the final minute of regulation to lead the top-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey team to a 4-3 win over No. 4 Minnesota and secure its second-straight WCHA Final Faceoff title on Saturday afternoon at AMSOIL Arena. 

Casey O'Brien put together three points with a goal and an assist, including an assist on the Badgers' (35-1-2) game-winning goal. Vivian Jungels netted her fourth goal of the season, Maggie Scannell scored her 13th and Wozniewicz secured the game-winner against Minnesota (28-11-1).

Wisconsin got on the board first just under 10 minutes into the first period. Kirsten Simms and O'Brien got a chance on the rush off a Minnesota turnover. Simms found O'Brien across the slot, who one-timed the puck into the net. Minnesota equalized later in the frame. The Golden Gophers scored to give them a 2-1 lead after the first period.

The Badgers equalized less than a minute into the second period. Jungels took a snipe from the top of the left faceoff circle that beat the screened Minnesota netminder Hannah Clark. Scannell gave Wisconsin a 3-2 lead with 12 minutes to play in the second. Scannell stole a loose puck and skated past two Minnesota defenders and deked out Clark on the backhand. Minnesota equalized on the power play to send the game into the second intermission tied at 3-3.

Both teams battled in the third period and Wisconsin's defense stood tall, killing off a late Minnesota power play. Wozniewicz sealed a Wisconsin victory with just 25 seconds remaining in regulation. O'Brien found herself behind the goal and sent a no-look pass to Wozniewicz in front who one-timed the puck past Clark to give Wisconsin a 4-3 lead. Minnesota pulled their netminder but couldn't equalize securing a Badger win.

McNaughton made 31 saves for her NCAA-leading 33rd win of the season.

Notes of the Game

• O'Brien became the all-time leading scorer in UW men's and women's hockey with her 268th career point, passing Mike Eaves who recorded 267 points during his time for the men's program. O'Brien now has 269 points, which ranks eighth in NCAA history
• O'Brien now has 83 points this season, which is tied for the second most in a single season in school history. Meghan Duggan holds the school record of 87 points during the 2010-122 season. 
• UW has now won 11 WCHA tournament titles, and its second-straight WCHA Final Faceoff crown. Wisconsin's 11 titles are the most of any school in the conference. 
• Wisconsin has now won nine-straight games against the Golden Gophers. 
• This marks the seventh year that UW has won both the WCHA Regular Season and WCHA Final Faceoff and the first since the 2020-21 season. 
• Caroline Harvey, Sarah Wozniewicz, Ava McNaughton and Casey O'Brien were named to the WCHA Final Faceoff All-Tournament Team while O'Brien was named the Most Outstanding Performer. 

Straight from the Rink
Head coach Mark Johnson
On the Border Battle championship matchup:
"Obviously, an exciting finish for us. But I say it's a typical Minnesota-Wisconsin game, whether it's in the regular season or in this tournament or the NCAA tournament. I hope the fans enjoyed it.

On Casey O'Brien's clutch showing in a key game:
"She's been good for us for a long time and as I sit here today, I mean, she's been the best player in college hockey this year by far."

On the big weekend:
"We're going to get ourselves prepped. I liked what happened this weekend. I like getting the second game just because it's going to provide something that if you win it it's a great experience, if you end up losing it is an opportunity to get yourself more organized for the next game." 

Senior forward Sarah Wozniewicz:
On what it takes to battle No. 4 Minnesota:
"Every time you play Minnesota, you have to come ready to play. They're such a good strong physical team and every time you play them, we have to bring it up a level and I think we did that well today."

Sophomore goaltender Ava McNaughton:
On bouncing back after conceding a goal:
"You never know what's gonna happen kind of like Kelly's goal yesterday, and, you know, playoff hockey bounces are gonna go both ways and, you kind of have to accept that sometimes there's not much you can do about it and you know, it's not the defense fault either. They're they're trying to make a play and it's just part of the game and you just hope that, you know, your defenders have your back and we're gonna go equalize it or get them back."

Up Next: Wisconsin, which secured the WCHA's automatic berth in the upcoming national championships, will find out its fate in the 2025 NCAA Tournament as the NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Selection Show will take place on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on ESPNU.