MADISON, Wis. – The top-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey closed out its home stint with an 8-1 victory over Bemidji State on Saturday afternoon at LaBahn Arena. 

Maddi Wheeler and Kirsten Simms each picked up a pair of goals, while Britta Curl, Cassie Hall, Kelly Gorbatenko and Vivian Jungels also found the back of the net for the Badgers (8-0-0, 4-0-0-0-0 WCHA) as they completed the sweep of the Beavers (0-7-1, 0-4-0-0-0 WCHA). 

Curl started off the scoring just 42 seconds into the game after deflecting in a shot from Anna Wilgren. 

The Beavers scored the equalizer before Wheeler gave the Badgers back the lead at the end of the first period.

Wheeler tallied her second of the game and Simms scored back-to-back goals to make it 5-1 UW. 

Hall and Gorbatenko lit the lamp with just nine seconds in between to extend the lead at the end of the second period. 

Jungels recorded the lone goal of the third period with just 1:16 left on the clock. 

Goalies Ava McNaughton and Chloe Baker split time in the net. McNaughton stopped seven of the shots she faced and Baker also made seven saves in her debut as a Badger. 

Three Notes of the Game
- Curl extended her goal streak to seven games, which ranks fourth in program history. The senior captain has 23 points this season off eight goals and 15 assists. 
- After a two-goal game from Maddi Wheeler, every Wisconsin forward has scored thus far in the season. 
- Kirsten Simms joined the 50-point club after a two-goal performance on Saturday. 

Straight from the Rink
Head Coach Mark Johnson
On completing the homestand and moving forward:
"Overall, it was a good weekend. It was a good homestand for us and now we get an opportunity to go on the road for a couple of weekends and continue the process of trying to get better."

On the second period:
"We're moving our feet and we're aggressive on the puck. The second period showed what we're capable of doing and you come in multiple layers. It's not just going to be one line that can do it. It was a good period for us."

Senior Forward Maddi Wheeler 
On her two-goal game:
"I'm not somebody that's going to score a ton of goals, but I think just putting them in when it counts is a big thing. It feels good to score a couple but better to get a one first."

On how to prepare moving forward:
"Whether it's home or away, we can't change how we prepare or how we play no matter who we're playing. So I think we need to continue to do what we're doing and get better on the things we need to."

Up Next: The Badgers will start their six-game road trip with a series against St. Thomas next Friday and Saturday night at the St. Thomas Ice Arena. Puck drop for Friday's game is set for 6 p.m., while Saturday's game will begin at 5 p.m.