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STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 20: A Frozen Four logo puck is seen before warmups during the NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Championship held at Pegula Ice Arena on March 20, 2026 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Kirsten Simms’ overtime winner lifted No. 2 Wisconsin to a 4-3 win over No. 3 Penn State in the Frozen Four on Friday night. The Nittany Lions potted two power play goals early in the game, but the Badgers’ power play had the final word in an instant classic. Tessa Janecke did all she could for Penn State, scoring two goals, including the game-tying goal on a third period breakaway.
First Period
Penn State struck first early in the game on the power play. Tessa Janecke fired a tough-angle shot from the left side of the net that bounced past Ava McNaughton and into the net:
The Nittany Lions disrupted Wisconsin’s breakout for most of the first period with their neutral zone forecheck, but the Badgers started to find some offensive zone time. Laila Edwards tied the game when she received a perfect pass from Kirsten Simms into the slot and backhanded a shot past Katie DeSa.
Penn State answered minutes later on their second power play. After Maddy Christian’s initial shot was stopped by McNaughton, Abby Stonehouse was parked in front of the net and poked home the puck to give Penn State the lead back:
Penn State led 2-1 after the first period.
Second Period
Wisconsin’s talent advantage and some solid adjustments from Mark Johnson allowed the Badgers to seize control of the flow of the game in the second period. Laila Edwards scored her second of the night on the power play with Katie DeSa screened perfectly to tie the game at 2.
The ice opened a bit with two minutes of 4-on-4 play, and while the Badgers could not immediately capitalize, Adela Sapovalivova tucked home the puck on a wraparound to put Wisconsin on top for the first time.
A tripping penalty against Wisconsin late in the period sent Penn State to the power play in the dying seconds of the second, but the Badgers took a 3-2 lead into the intermission.
Third Period
Penn State’s attack came to life in the third period after a flat second. Ava McNaughton made four massive saves on high-danger chances. The Nittany Lions turned the momentum of the game in their favor but could not finish just yet.
With five minutes left in regulation, Nicole Hall found Tessa Janecke cherry picking in the neutral zone. Janecke race in on a breakaway and backhanded the game-tying goal past McNaughton:
Penn State pressured Wisconsin in the closing minutes of regulation but could not finish. The game went to overtime tied at 3.
Overtime
Kendall Butze took a boarding penalty in the opening minute of overtime. Wisconsin wasted no time making Penn State pay, and a wrist shot by Kirsten Simms through traffic found the back of the net to send the Badgers to the championship game.
Scoring Summary
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | Final | |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Penn State | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
First Period
- PSU: Tessa Janecke (25)- Katelyn Roberts (17), Kendall Butze (28)- PP- 1:52
- WISC: Laila Edwards (11)- Kirsten Simms (32), Adela Sapovalivova (19)- 5v5- 4:31
- PSU: Abby Stonehouse (14)- Maddy Christian (16), Mikah Keller (26)- PP- 7:53
Second Period
- WISC: Laila Edwards (12)- Kirsten Simms (33), Adela Sapovalivova (20)- PP- 8:11
- WISC: Adela Sapovalivova (15)- Lacey Eden (47), Kelly Gorbatenko (21)- 5v5- 16:09
Third Period
- PSU: Tessa Janecke (26)- Nicole Hall (10)- 5v5- 15:01
Overtime
- WISC: Kirsten Simms (26)- Caroline Harvey (45), Laila Edwards (33)- PP- 0:50
Shots By Period
- WISC: 15-13-6-34
- PSU: 8-3-14-25
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