Top-seed Wisconsin and second-seeded Ohio State advance to the 2026 Kwik Trip Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Faceoff on Saturday, while #3 Minnesota and #5 Minnesota State recorded wins to push a game three in the WCHA First Round.
#5 Minnesota State 2, #4 Minnesota Duluth 1 2OT | Minnesota State Recap
- For the third straight season, Minnesota State forced a game three in the WCHA First Round after a 2-1 double overtime win against Minnesota Duluth.
- Whitney Tuttle put the Mavericks on the board early against the Bulldogs, scoring just over three minutes into the first frame; the Bulldogs tied the game in the second period as Thea Johansson scored the equalizer; after a scoreless third period and first 20-minute overtime, Tuttle scored the game-winning goal with less than five minutes to play in the second overtime.
- Minnesota State's Hailey Hansen recorded a season high of 55 saves in the win for the Mavericks.
#3 Minnesota 4, #6 St. Cloud State 1 | BOX SCORE | Minnesota Recap
- The third-seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers pushed a game three in the WCHA First Round best-of-three series as they defeated St. Cloud State 4-1 inside Ridder Arena.
- Minnesota’s Tereza Plosová scored the first postseason goal of her career, scoring at the 8:15 mark of the first period for the game's first goal; the Gophers added two in the second period; Maria Mikaelyan brought St. Cloud State within two at the 4:50 mark of the third but was not enough as the Gophers closed out the game with an empty net goal with minute remaining in the game.
- Abbey Murphy led the Gophers with two goals as she became the Minnesota program record holder for most career goals as she is now at 141.
#2 Ohio State 4, #7 St. Thomas 1 | BOX SCORE | Ohio State Recap | St. Thomas Recap
- After a 4-1 win against St. Thomas in game two of the WCHA First Round best-of-three series, Ohio State punched its ticket to the 2026 Kwik Trip WCH Final Faceoff
- Two recent Olympians Hilda Svensson and Mira Jungåker, each recorded a goal in the opening period to give the Buckeyes a 2-0 lead heading; Jungåker put the Buckeyes up 3-0 in the second period at the 6:43 mark before Maddie Brown responded for St. Thomas less than a minute later; the Tommies’ push was not enough as Sanni Vanhanen scored the game’s final goal at the 1:04 mark of the third period.
- Emma Peschel recorded an assist on the first goal of the game and earned her 100th career point.
#1 Wisconsin 3, #8 Bemidji State 2 OT | BOX SCORE | Wisconsin Recap
- A thrilling overtime winner from Laila Edwards helped top-seed Wisconsin clinch its spot in the 2026 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff.
- After a scoreless first period, Hailey Armstrong gave Bemidji State the lead at the 13:24 mark of the second period before Wisconsin responded with back-to-back goals later in the frame; down one with less than 30 seconds remaining, Morgan Smith scored the equalizer and sent the game to overtime, where Wisconsin's Laila Edwards scored the game-winner just over a minute into the extra period.
- Bemidji State's Ava Hills made 44 stops despite the loss as Wisconsin outshot Bemidji State 47-12.
Sunday, Mar. 1
No. 5 Minnesota State at No. 4 Minnesota Duluth - 1 PM CT
No. 6 St. Cloud State at No. 3 Minnesota - 3 PM CT - FOX9+
For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com.