Mark Johnson looked down the bench and said, “Who wants it?”
With 18.9 seconds left on the clock and the Wisconsin Badgers down a goal, his players looked to Kirsten Simms to take the penalty shot. Her hand shot up.
“I can’t really say it was initially my choice. I have everyone on the bench screaming, ‘Simms! Simms! Simms!’ so I was like, ‘Coach is going to need to see my hand go up for me to actually go,’” Simms said postgame. “I actually have to thank all of my teammates for that because I was super nervous going into that moment and they all just calmed me down.”
Simms took it and scored, tying the game.
KIRSTEN SIMMS TIES UP THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WITH 18.9 SECONDS REMAINING 😱
OVERTIME ON ESPNU NOW 🍿 pic.twitter.com/jwxx3Lx4Et
— ESPN (@espn) March 23, 2025
Minutes into the overtime that followed, she scored again to win it.
THE BADGERS ARE BRINGING THE NATTY HOME! 🏆@simmsy0427 scores the OT winner for the Badgers!#WFrozenFour x 🎥 ESPNU / @BadgerWHockey pic.twitter.com/Z9KYsUGhom
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 23, 2025
With her second goal, the Badgers won their record eighth national championship in a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday.
When it was over, Simms was named the Women’s Frozen…
