Women’s Hockey: Elite Forward Reaches Major Milestone Significant Show-down Display

Wins against the Beavers on Thursday, Friday move Wisconsin women’s hockey to 10-0-0, 6-0-0

The University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team (10-0-0, 6-0-0 WCHA) maintained their dominance at home against Bemidji State (1-8-1, 0-6-0) with back-to-back shutout victories, winning 4-0 on Thursday and 6-0 on Friday. The reigning champions remain ranked No. 1 in the nation.

The game began at 7 p.m. at LaBahn Arena on Thursday, and it didn’t take long for junior forward Laila Edwards to score her ninth goal of the season, with assists from Casey O’Brien and Kirsten Simms. This goal marked the 100th point in Edwards’s career, making her the 33rd player in Badger history to reach this milestone.

Edwards joins teammates O’Brien, Simms, and Lacey Eden in the 100-point club. Wisconsin legend Hilary Knight holds the all-time points record with 262 career points as a Badger. Notably, Edwards is only the third player to achieve 100 points while playing fewer than 100 games, joining Simms and current Professional Women’s Hockey League forward Daryl Watts.

Following Edwards’s goal, juniors Marianne Picard and Caroline Harvey each contributed a goal in the second period, while Claire Enright capped off the scoring against the Beavers with a goal late in the third. Edwards led her team with six shots on goal.

The Badgers continued their strong performance the next night, with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. in front of another sold-out crowd. Early crisp passes led to a goal by Eden, giving Wisconsin a lead they would maintain throughout the game.

Edwards scored again, taking a pass from Eden behind the goal line to net her second goal in as many days. Wisconsin showcased impressive teamwork with precise passing, resulting in a total of 87 shots compared to Bemidji’s 25 over the two games.

In the second period, Wisconsin put the game out of reach by scoring four more goals. Eden tallied her second goal, Simms found the net, and sophomores Cassie Hall and Kelly Gorbatenko also scored, all in that period.

Next, Wisconsin will travel to St. Cloud, Minnesota, on November 1 and 2 to face St. Cloud State, who currently holds a record of 7-1-2, 3-1-2, and the Badgers will aim to preserve their undefeated status.