Let Saturday, March 7, serve as the latest reminder that it takes a full 60 minutes to win the race for the top spot in women’s college lacrosse.
In the WCHA final championship game at Lee and Penny Anderson Stadium on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, No. 2 Ohio State scored twice in the final 5 1/2 minutes to defeat No. 1 Wisconsin 2-1.
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In addition to giving the Buckeyes their first Finals title since 2023, the win could lock up the top seed in the NCAA tournament. Ohio State topped the NCAA Strength Index that day, which is used to help determine the 11-team roster.
Score: No. 2 Ohio 2, No. 1 Wisconsin 1
Groupings will be announced on the morning of Sunday, March 8th.
Ohio State freshman Hilda Svensson’s goal at 14:30 of the final period and junior Jordan Baxter’s goal at 16:33 gave the Buckeyes the come-from-behind victory.
Baxter’s winning goal came on a shot behind UW goalkeeper Ava McNaughton. Sophomore Finley McCarthy nearly cleared the puck from the crease but didn’t seem to see it in time.
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The goal was a tough loss for Wisconsin, but the win was well-deserved from the Buckeyes’ perspective. Ohio State (34-4) set the tone for much of the afternoon and held a 31-18 shooting advantage through two quarters. If it weren’t for McNaughton’s stellar performance with a career-high 38 saves, the Badgers would have fallen behind.
Wisconsin’s defense had 19 blocks and two free throws. The second kill came in the seventh minute of the final period and included three saves by McNaughton and blocks by junior Lenny Porter and senior Marian Pickard to hold Ohio State scoreless.
Wisconsin (32-4-2) was rewarded for its defense about two minutes later when junior Kelly Gorbatenko passed the ball from the goal line to senior Lacey Eden, who fired a one-time shot into the goal to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead at 9:58 of the third period.
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The Badgers took the lead, but it was short-lived.
Washington’s eight-game winning streak was ended. The last team to beat it before Saturday was Ohio State on Feb. 7.
Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Caroline Harvey (4) and Bemidji State’s Shelby Sandberg compete for the puck during the first period of the Badgers’ 3-2 overtime win at LaBarne Arena in Madison, Wisconsin, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Caroline Harvey (4) and Bemidji State’s Shelby Sandberg compete for the puck during the first period of the Badgers’ 3-2 overtime win at LaBarne Arena in Madison, Wisconsin, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin goalie Ava McNaughton deflects a shot from Bemidji State during a first-round game of the WCHA playoffs at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin, on February 27, 2026. Wisconsin won 7-0.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Lacey Eden (6) prepares to take a shot and Bemidji State’s Olivia Dronen defends during a WCHA first-round playoff game at LaBarne Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Wisconsin won 3-2 in overtime.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Finley McCarthy (2) holds the ball and Bemidji State’s Shebby Sandberg defends during a first-round game of the WCHA playoffs at LaBarne Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Wisconsin won 3-2 in overtime.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Vivian Jungels (20) surveys Bemidji State’s Paige Smith’s defense during a WCHA first-round playoff game Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin won 3-2 in overtime.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Laila Edwards shoots and Bemidji State’s Tayla Hendrickson defends during the first quarter of the WCHA first-round playoff game at LaBahn Arena. After overtime, the University of Washington won 3-2.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Claire Enright (16) watches the defense during a first-round game of the WCHA playoffs on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin won 3-2 in overtime.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Ava Murphy holds the puck during the first round of the WCHA playoffs at LaBarne Arena on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin won 3-2 in overtime.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Caroline Harvey takes charge of the puck during a first-round WCHA playoff game against Bemidji State at LaBahn Arena on February 27, 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin won 7-0.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Marian Pickard (18) shoots and Bemidji State’s Shelby Sandberg (15) and Reilly Carney (10) defend against the ball on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at LaBarne Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers won 7-0.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Marianne Picard prepares to throw a pass during the first round of the WCHA playoffs at LaBahn Stadium on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin won 3-2 in overtime.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Hannah Halverson wins 3-2 in overtime during the first round of the WCHA playoffs on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at LaBarne Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Lacey Eden (6) prepares to throw a pass during a WCHA first round playoff game at LaBahn Stadium on Friday, February 27, 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin won 7-0.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Caroline Harvey throws a pass during the first quarter of a 7-0 win over Bemidji State at LaBahn Arena on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin women’s hockey team sweeps Bemidji State in WCHA playoffs
Wisconsin’s Lacey Eden (No. 6) catches a pass from Kelly Gorbatenko (No. 7) during a WCHA first-round playoff game at LaBarne Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin won 3-2 in overtime.
This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Hockey Can’t Beat Ohio State in WCHA Finals
