No. 2 Badgers advance to NCAA Frozen Four

Saturday, March 14

1 p.m.

Wisconsin Badgers

33-4-2

Quinnipiac

29-9-3

Quinnipiac

Wisconsin

Photo by: Nolan Kromke

No. 2 Badgers advance to NCAA Frozen Four

March 14, 2026 | Women's Hockey

Box Score

UW shuts out Quinnipiac, 6-0, in regional final

By: Lily Wakefield

MADISON, Wis. — The No. 2 Wisconsin women's hockey team (33-4-2) advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four this Saturday, dancing past Quinnipiac in the Regional Final at LaBahn Arena, 6-0.

The win was one of Wisconsin's most well-rounded of the season, scoring two goals in each period. Junior Kelly Gorbatenko led the offense with her second hat trick of the season, while the Badger defense and goaltender Ava McNaughton shutout the Bobcats after allowing just 17 shots on goal.

It also marked the 700th career victory of head coach Mark Johnson, the first NCAA women's hockey head coach to reach that milestone

Wisconsin's high energy was apparent from the first puck drop. It was Gorbatenko who made it 1-0 just three minutes into the first period, being the receiving end of a long passing sequence from Cassie Hall and Lacey Eden.

Despite a large lead in shots-on-goal throughout the first period, it took a power play in the final three minutes for the Badgers to score again. This time it was Kirsten Simms who went off the top-corner of the post after the initial power play face off.

Freshman Adéla Šapovalivová collected UW's first goal of the second period, once again starting the frame off with a bang. Šapovalivová scored her fifth postseason goal in five games after a minute of play.

Gorbatenko then tallied another, to give the Badgers a 4-0 lead entering the third period.

The Bobcats found themselves on a power play halfway through the third, opting to pull their goalie for a 6-on-4 scoring attack. Eden countered with a short-handed empty net goal, her third shorthanded goal of the season.

Gorbatenko then completed her hat trick, and recorded her 100th career point, with a game-sealing one-timer from Mackenzie Jones, putting a pin in the 6-0 victory.

UW outshot Quinnipiac 51-17 and goaltender Ava McNaughton recorded 17 saves.

Head Coach Mark Johnson
On what the next week will look like:
"We went through a stretch this year for a month where we looked a lot different than we looked today. Keep the most important thing the important thing. Our next game against Penn State is going to be the most important thing. We get four or five days to prep and get ourselves ready, and we're looking forward to it. After today, we're down to four teams, and if you're fortunate you get two more games. If you win both of them, then you're national champions. It's a good spot to be in."

On the season's ups and downs:
"Sometimes we were bending, and sometimes it wasn't looking very good, but we were able to develop enough relationships within our core group to make sure things stayed in the positive setting. I think today was one of the games that we really played free. We went out there and everybody was pulling for themselves. You could feel the energy on the bench, the communication on the bench was really positive. It didn't matter who was on the ice, it didn't matter who was scoring, it was about what can I do to help the team.

Kirsten Simms
On the senior classes' last game at LaBahn Arena:
"It's unbelievable. You see us at the end of the game skating around LaBahn, soaking it all in. There's been no better place to play the last four years and to also go to four Frozen Fours together is incredible."

Kelly Gorbatenko
On the team's defensive effort:
"The "defense wins championships" saying is around for a reason, it doesn't matter what the score is, we still have people blocking shots, cheering and firing each other up to do the little things. That's really what's going to make the difference down the stretch."

Notes of the Game

The Badgers are 9-0-0 in NCAA Tournament games at LaBahn all-time, outscoring their opponents 42-3.
Kelly Gorbatenko recorded her second hat trick of the season, after previously scoring four goals against St. Cloud State on 2/21. Gorbatenko's hat trick was the Badgers first in the NCAA Tournament since Laila Edwards did so in last year's Frozen Four victory over Minnesota.
Gorbatenko reached 100 career points in the victory.
The Badgers now have 17 appearances in the Frozen Four all-time, breaking a tie with Minnesota for the most of any NCAA DI program. UW has reached the last four Frozen Fours.
Wisconsin has 10 shutouts now on the season. No. 7 Quinnipiac is the second-highest ranked shutout for UW this season, previously blanking No. 4 Minnesota Duluth in October.