Ohio State has been the streak snapper for the University of Wisconsin women's hockey team in the last year, and things looked headed that way again for a while Friday.
The top-ranked Badgers launched an impressive turnaround in the second period to keep their season-opening run going.
Lacey Eden scored twice in Wisconsin's 4-2 victory at No. 2 Ohio State. It was the Badgers' first win in their last seven games at the OSU Ice Rink.
The Buckeyes ended Wisconsin winning streaks at 12, 15 and seven games last season and they raced out to a 2-0 lead in the first meeting this season between teams that have won the last five NCAA titles.
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But the Badgers rallied in the second period and Ava McNaughton made 15 of her 31 saves in the final frame to extend the season-opening winning streak to 13 games, third-longest in team history.
Kirsten Simms turned defense to offense
Kirsten Simms made crucial plays on both ends of the ice during a Wisconsin power play, leading to the go-ahead goal in the third period. The Badgers forward stopped Joy Dunne's rush by getting her skate on the puck, then pushed it forward for Laila Edwards.
Simms raced up the right wing, tapping her stick along the way to call for a pass, and got the puck back from Edwards in the offensive zone before feeding Eden in the slot.
A drive and a gift got Wisconsin even
The Badgers unlocked scoring chances in the second period with transition skating, and it led to a breakthrough goal by Eden that started to pull them out of a 2-0 hole. Casey O'Brien drove up the left side and connected with Eden in front.
A gift allowed O'Brien to tie it later in the middle frame. Buckeyes goalie Amanda Thiele tried to cover the puck but had it roll past her; O'Brien fought off two defenders to tap it in.
Ohio State put pressure on the Badgers in the 1st
Wisconsin (13-0, 9-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association, 27 points) allowed one first-period goal in its first 12 games. Ohio State (11-3-2, 6-3-2, 20 points) scored two goals 14 seconds apart in the opening period.
The Badgers couldn't clear the defensive zone on the first, and former Wisconsin forward Maddi Wheeler finished off a pass from Dunne. Jenna Buglioni redirected home a Dunne shot soon after.
Three stars
No. 3: Laila Edwards, Wisconsin. A three-assist game in her first contest without a goal in nine outings.
No. 2: Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin. She had to be on her game to keep her team in it after it fell behind.
No. 1: Lacey Eden, Wisconsin. Two goals and an assist in the Badgers' biggest test to date.
Photos: Wisconsin women's hockey faces off against Ohio State in Frozen Four title game
Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey, of Salem, N.H., breaks up a pass for Ohio State's Jenn Gardiner during the first period of the NCAA Division I championship game Sunday at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
Wisconsin goalie Ava McNaughton makes a save in front of Ohio State's Hadley Hartmetz and teammate Ava Murphy during the first period of the NCAA Division I championship game Sunday at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
Wisconsin's Laney Potter gets past Ohio State's Jenna Buglioni during the first period of the NCAA Division I championship game Sunday at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
Wisconsin's Ava Murphy poke checks Ohio State's Kiara Zanon during the first period of the NCAA Division I championship game Sunday at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
Wisconsin's Lacey Eden and Ohio State's Stephanie Markowski pursue the puck in the first period of the NCAA Division I championship game Sunday at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
Wisconsin forward Britta Curl hits the ice in front of Ohio State forward Kelsey King as they pursue the puck in the first period of the NCAA Division I championship game Sunday at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
Wisconsin's Kirsten Simms and Ohio State's Lauren Bernard slam into the boards as they pursue the puck in the first period of the NCAA Division I championship game Sunday at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State's Kenzie Hauswirth and Wisconsin's Laney Potter pursue the puck in the first period of the NCAA Division I championship game Sunday at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State goaltender Raygan Kirk deflects the puck as Wisconsin forward Kirsten Simms is unable to score in the second period of the NCAA Division I championship game Sunday at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
Wisconsin goaltender Ava McNaughton deflects a shot in the second period of the NCAA Division I championship game Sunday at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State's Jenna Buglioni and Wisconsin's Anna Wilgren grapple for position in the second period of the NCAA Division I championship game Sunday at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State's Hadley Hartmetz and Wisconsin's Kirsten Simms collide in the second period of the NCAA Division I championship game Sunday at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State forward Joy Dunne celebrates with defenseman Lauren Bernard (19) after Dunne scored in the third period against Wisconsin on March 24, 2024, in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State forward Joy Dunne celebrates after scoring in the third period against Wisconsin on March 24, 2024, in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State goaltender Raygan Kirk deflects the puck as Wisconsin forward Kirsten Simms is unable to score in the second period on March 24, 2024, in Durham, N.H.
Wisconsin goaltender Ava McNaughton deflects a goal attempt in the second period against Ohio State on March 24, 2024, in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State forward Joy Dunne, left, celebrates after scoring against Wisconsin goaltender Ava McNaughton in the third period on March 24, 2024, in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State forward Sloane Matthews, left, and defenseman Emma Peschel celebrate with the NCAA college women's championship trophy after beating Wisconsin on March 24, 2024, in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State forward Olivia Mobley cuts a piece of the goal net while celebrating her team's win over Wisconsin in the NCAA college women's championship hockey game on March 24, 2024, in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State players celebrate after beating Wisconsin in the NCAA college women's championship game on March 24, 2024, in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State celebrates after beating Wisconsin in the NCAA college women's hockey championship game on March 24, 2024, in Durham, N.H.
Ohio State goaltenders Quinn Kuntz, center left, and Amanda Thiele, center right, celebrate after beating Wisconsin in a NCAA college women's championship game on March 24, 2024, in Durham, N.H.
