Wisconsin Dominates over Bemidji State in Back-to-Back Wins

Wisconsin sweeps Bemidji State in Women's Hockey, But the Beavers know how to put up a fight

SPORTSWISCONSIN

Dylan Baumgart

1/27/20261 min read

The Bemidji State Beavers traveled to Madison last weekend to take on the top ranked Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin had not lost a game sense October and had no plans on breaking that streak.

The weekend kicked off with a blowout 10-3 victory on senior day, but the game wasn't as smooth sailing as the score gives off. Bemidji State went up early in the first period after Isa Goettl scored the first goal of the game. Kirsten Sims tied it up for the Badgers about 5 minutes later, and Caroline Harvey would give Wisconsin their first lead of the game half way through the first period. The Beavers fought back however, netting two more goals to regain the lead, the first scored by Hailey Armstrong and the second scored by Morgan Smith, making the score 3-2 in favor of Bemidji State. With less than 2 seconds left in the first period, Caroline Harvey would score a game-tying power play goal. Unfortunately for the Beavers, their scoring would end there. Wisconsin took over the game and scored 7 straight to win 10-3.

Bemidji State clearly showed in the first period of game 1 that they can skate with the best in the country, and looked to prove that during game two. Wisconsin was quick to score 2 goals in the first period, and a third goal half way through the 2nd period that would put them up 3-0. Morgan Smith was able to find her second goal of the weekend, which brought the deficit to 2 goals, but Wisconsin quickly scored, thanks to Kelly Gorbatenko, to regain that 3 goal lead. A last second goal from Kirsten Sims brought their lead to 4 going into the final period. Wisconsin went on to score again in the 3rd, bringing the final score to 6-1.

Two things were obvious over the weekend.

1) The Wisconsin PK unit is elite. Killing off multiple 5-on-3 power plays, and holding Bemidji State to just 1 for 9 in the weekend.

2) Bemidji State, despite having just 5 wins on the season, is a great hockey team. They fought hard through all 60 minutes of both game, and had two different leads over the Badgers on day 1. Do not underestimate the Beavers.