STANDINGS | COMPOSITE SCHEDULE
Three of the four Western Collegiate Hockey Association's best-of-three First Round series concluded on Saturday, with #1 Wisconsin, #2 Ohio State, and #4 Minnesota Duluth each punching their tickets to the 2025 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff. The sixth-seeded Minnesota State Mavericks defeated #3 Minnesota in a thrilling 5-4 double overtime victory to push game three on Sunday, March 2.
WCHA fans can purchase both single-session and all-session tickets and see complete information on the 2025 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff by visiting the tournament page HERE.
Box Scores and Recaps
#1 Wisconsin 11, #8 Bemidji State 0 - Wisconsin Wins Series 2-0
Box Score | Wisconsin Recap | Bemidji State Recap
MADISON, Wis. - After recording an 11-0 shutout over Bemidji State, the top-seeded Wisconsin Badgers earned a berth into the 2025 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff. The Badgers scored eight goals in the opening frame en route to the second-straight shutout over the Beavers. Kirsten Simms recorded her second hat trick in just three games, with two of her goals coming in the opening three minutes. Six different Badgers also tallied a goal in the first period while Simms notched her third of the game at the 10:06 mark of the second. Both Sarah Wozniewicz and Finley McCarthy scored in the final one minute of play for the 11-0 shutout win. Casey O'Brien scored the game's seventh goal and became the Wisconsin program record holder in career points with 26. O'Brien also broke her own school record for most assists in a single season as she now has 55 assists.
#2 Ohio State 4, #7 St. Thomas 1 - Ohio State Wins Series 2-0
Box Score | Ohio State Recap | St. Thomas Recap
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The second-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes punched their ticket to the 2025 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff on Saturday after sweeping the series with a 4-1 win over #7 St. Thomas. The Buckeyes scored back-to-back goals in the opening two minutes of play from Joy Dunne and Josie St. Martin. Maddi Wheeler extended the lead to three at the 14:56 mark of the opening frame. The second period saw Makenna Webster add a tally for the final Buckeye goal. St. Thomas' Maddie Jurgensen scored the lone goal of the game for the Tommies with less than three minutes left in the final period.
#6 Minnesota State 5, #3 Minnesota 4 2 0T- Series Tied 1-1
Box Score | Minnesota Recap | Minnesota State Recap
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - After a thrilling 5-4 double overtime victory, the sixth-seeded Minnesota State Mavericks pushed a game three with the third-seed Minnesota in the best-of-three series. This marks the second-straight season that the best-of-three first round series between the two teams will be decided in its third game. Mackenzie Bourgerie scored the first goal of the game at the 8:48 mark of the opening period for the Mavericks. Minnesota State then scored back-to-back goals in the opening five minutes of the second frame from Claire Vekich and Sydney Langseth to make it a 3-0 game. Minnesota rallied for back-to-back goals of their own in the second as Abbey Murphy and Ella Huber tallied one each. The third period saw Alexis Paddington extend the lead to two for Minnesota State before the Gophers scored two unanswered from Murphy and Krista Parkkonen. Both teams held each other scoreless through 39 minutes and 55 seconds of overtime play before Madison Mashuga notched the game-winning goal for Minnesota State with just 4.7 seconds remaining. Minnesota State's Hailey Hansen broke the school record for saves in a game with 66 saves.
#4 Minnesota Duluth 2, #5 St. Cloud State 1 - Minnesota Duluth Wins Series 2-0
Box Score | Minnesota Duluth Recap | St. Cloud State Recap
DULUTH, Minn. - For the 17th time in program history, Minnesota Duluth earned a spot in the 2025 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff after the fourth-seeded Bulldogs defeated the fifth-seed St. Cloud State in a 2-1 win. After a scoreless first period, Grace Sadura lit the lamp for Minnesota Duluth at the 13:53 mark of the second period for the 1-0 lead. Teammate Olivia Mobley scored what was the game-winning goal just over five minutes later. The Huskies' Laura Zimmermann put St. Cloud State on the board with less than five minutes to go, but it was not enough as the Bulldogs held on for the victory. Ève Gascon collected 38 saves on the game to earn the victory between the pipes for Minnesota Duluth.
For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com.