Badgers Blow Out Merrimack For Women's Hockey Sweep

Kirsten Simms scored two goals and four other players one goal each in Wisconsin's 6-1 victory.

The Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team blew Merrimack out for the second straight games, winning 6-1 on Saturday night at La Bahn Arena in Madison.

The No. 3 Badgers (16-4, 10-4 in WHCA, 31 points) are now 4-0-0 all-time against Merrimack. They remain third place in the WHCA behind Ohio State and Minnesota.

Wisconsin scored four goals in the first period to take a commanding lead over Merrimack (6-12-2).

Kirsten Simms led Wisconsin with two goals, and she also dished out two assists to finish with four points. Cassie Hall, Britta Curl, Laney Potter and Sarah Wozniewicz each had a goal for the Badgers. Curl was also credited with two assists.

Ava McNaughton was in goal for Wisconsin and saved 15 of 16 shots in the victory. Merrimack’s Hayley Chang scored its only goal in the third period.

Wisconsin had some things to think about during its month-long break, including a split with Minnesota in its final WHCA games of 2023 on Dec. 8-9. The Golden Gophers took the first game, 5-3, while Wisconsin won the finale, 5-1. That was on the heels of a split with Minnesota Duluth the weekend before.

In fact, after winning their first 12 games of the season, the Badgers went 2-4 in their final six games of 2023.

On Friday the Badgers blew out Merrimack, 6-1, as they scored six unanswered goals after falling behind 1-0.

Lacey Eden and Laila Edwards each scored two goals. Curl and Hall each scored once. Jane Gervais was in goal and stopped 15 shots to win her eighth game of the season.

The Badgers return to WHCA action on Saturday when they host St. Thomas in Madison at 7 p.m.