In a stunning comeback: Wisconsin women's hockey grabs the National Championship

What a team. What a season. What an epic national championship. 

On Sunday afternoon, the number-one ranked Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey team captured their eighth national championship under Mark Johnson with a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory over second-ranked Ohio State. It was the third consecutive time these two WCHA rivals met in the NCAA championship, with both teams splitting the last two title games. With the win, the Badgers finished the season with a program-record 38 wins. 

The Buckeyes got on the board first with a shorthanded goal from Joy Dunne, who corralled the puck behind her net and weaved past Badger defenders to put Ohio State up 1-0 at 11:38. The Badgers top-ranked power play equalized 12 seconds later on a Laila Edwards goal set up by Lacey Eden. Edwards had a great scoring chance later in the period, but Buckeye goalie Amanda Thiele kept the puck out and into Ohio State's possession. That save led to a Buckeyes' 2-on-1 break, where Sloan Matthews buried Ohio State's second goal of the period before intermission. 

The Buckeyes seized control of the game 10 seconds into the second period with an Emma Peschel slapshot. Ohio State's speed and pressure were causing problems for Wisconsin, but the Badgers got back within one goal at 5:27 thanks to a KK Harvey shot set up by Kirsten Simms. 

In the third period, the Buckeyes' defense pressured the middle of the ice, denying the Badgers any scoring chances. When it appeared that Ohio State would repeat as national champions, a penalty for too many players on the ice with 1:50 left in the game put the Badgers back on the power play. With 19 seconds left after a Badgers shot, an Ohio State player grabbed the puck in the goal crease. Upon a Wisconsin challenge and lengthy review, a penalty was given, which resulted in a penalty shot. 

In stepped Simms.

The Badgers dominated the first two minutes of overtime, but the Buckeyes shut down multiple Wisconsin shots. That was when Simms clinched the championship by capitalizing on a rebound off Eden's shot. 

To no one's surprise, Simms was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player of the Game, cementing herself as a Badger hockey legend for years to come.