Kirsten Simms Plays Hero In Epic Comeback, Wisconsin Wins National Title

It looked like the game was over. The Ohio State Buckeyes led the Wisconsin Badgers 3-2 with under 20 seconds remaining. 

Minutes later, Wisconsin found themselves crowned NCAA national champions winning 4-3 in overtime.

Leading 3-2, the Ohio State Buckeyes took a too many players on the ice penalty with only 1:50 remaining. They looked like they were about to take the title, fending off Wisconsin's attacks when the whistle blew with 18.9 seconds remaining. At the stoppage, Wisconsin made a coach's challenge believing an Ohio State player stopped the puck from crossing the line by covering the puck in the crease with her glove.

Wisconsin won the challenge and was awarded the choice of a penalty shot or another penalty. They chose a penalty shot.

When coach Mark Johnson asked his bench, "who wants it?" Kirsten Simms raised her glove. She took the penalty shot out waiting Ohio State goalie Amanda Thiele to score the game tying goal with 18.9 seconds left.

"Couldn't think while I was going, just had to be confident with it, worked out," Simms said in a  post game on-ice interview.

Then, only 2:49 into overtime, Simms found a rebound on her stick and slid home the winning goal.

"It hasn't sunk in yet, it doesn't feel real. This team went to bat all game," said Simms.

Ohio State netminder Amanda Thiele made big save after big save late in the game. She made 27 saves in total.

Joy Dunne, Emma Peschel, and Sloane Matthews put Ohio State up 3-1 in the game. But Wisconsin answered back with goals from Laila Edwards and Caroline Harvey prior to Simms' heroics.

Ohio State won last year's NCAA national title 1-0 over Ohio State on an overtime goal by Joy Dunne.

In 2025, it's the Wisconsin Badgers who hold the title.