BEMIDJI, Minn. – Junior Kirsten Simms recorded three goals and an assist as the No.1 Wisconsin women's hockey team defeated Bemidji State, 6-1, at the Sanford Center Saturday.

Simms earned her second career hat trick for Wisconsin (31-1-2, 25-1-2-1-0-1 WCHA) and second three-goal performance at the Sanford Center, last accomplishing the feat on Feb. 9, 2024, against the Beavers (6-28-1, 4-24-0 WCHA) in Bemidji. Simms added an assist on top of her three goals, joining Lacey Eden with four points in the game. 

Laila Edwards and Hannah Halverson also scored in UW's regular-season finale. 

The Beavers took a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the game that they'd take into the first intermission.

Wisconsin responded with a four-goal second period, including three power-play goals. Simms tied the game at 1-1 two minutes into the period on the power play. The Badgers returned to the power four minutes later and this time Eden found the back of the Bemidji State net. Edwards scored her 30th goal of the season with 12 minutes left in the second frame to give Wisconsin a 3-1 lead. 

The Badgers returned to the power play with four minutes to play in the second period and Simms capitalized with her second power-play goal of the game. Eden contributed to every goal in the second with one goal and three assists for a four-point period.

Simms earned a hat trick unassisted just one minute into the third period. Halverson scored her third collegiate goal to give the Badgers a 6-1 advantage just two minutes later to cap off the scoring. 

Quinn Kuntz stopped 18 of 19 shots for her second win in her second start this season.

Notes of the Game

• Laila Edwards scored her 30th goal of the season, becoming the seventh Badgers to notch 30 goals in a season. 
• Wisconsin scored four goals in the second period, marking the second-straight series it has scored four goals in a period after putting four past Minnesota on Feb. 9 in the second period.
• Wisconsin's three power-play goals tie their season-high, having scored three on Jan. 18 against St. Thomas.
• Simms is the second Badger to record a hat trick this season alongside Laila Edwards who scored four against St. Thomas on Jan. 18.
• Wisconsin ended the regular season with 77 points in the WCHA standings, the most UW has earned in school history. 

Straight from the Rink
Junior forward Kirsten Simms
Looking forward to the playoffs:
"It's shown game-by-game, when we hit adversity we know how to get out of it and end up in good positions anyways. We've had a solid year so continuing to keep that throughout the next couple of weeks and get it done."

On the momentum shift that led to the hat trick:
"Our team started to step on the gas in the second. We got a little bit of a slow start but once you get us going, anyone on this team could put the puck in the net and create some damage. We started to get going on the second and once that happened the floodgates opened."

On production coming from the entire roster:
"It shows the depth and leadership we have on this team. Goals can come from the top-down, you can count on anybody. Finley had a goal yesterday and Hannah had one today — you can go from our seniors to our freshman — you can count on anyone to get the job done."

Up Next: The Badgers open postseason action against Bemidji State next weekend at LaBahn Arena. Puck drop on Friday is at 7 p.m., Saturday's contest begins at 3 p.m. and Sunday's game, if necessary, begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are sold out but fans can watch the action live on Big Ten Plus.