Wisconsin shuts out Bemidji; Olympians make immediate impact in returnMark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal SentinelSat, February 28, 2026 at 4:09 AM UTC·3 min readMADISON – Wisconsin's five Olympians returned to the ice Friday, Feb. 27. Their presence was immediately felt.
The top-ranked Badgers women's hockey team shut out Bemidji State, 7-0, at LaBahn Arena in Game 1 of a WCHA first-round playoff series. UW’s Olympians combined for nine points and four goals in the victory and junior goaltender Ava McNaugton recorded her seventh shutout of the season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWisconsin (30-3-2) can complete a sweep of the Beavers (6-26-3) at 3 p.m. Saturday.
“It's nice to see kids that have been away from us for a while have success in the first part of the game and the first game itself because that gets them back up to speed and into a good place instead of maybe having a game where things don't go very well (and) you get frustrated, you get down on yourself,” Badgers coach Mark Johnson said.
The game went about as expected. Wisconsin defeated Bemidji by an average margin of six goals in a season sweep. Friday UW set the tone with three goals during the first 16 minutes, its best start in five games against the Beavers.
Wisconsin defender Laney Potter (22) picks up the puck to lead a rush against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers won 4-1.
Wisconsin right wing Lacey Eden (6) looks for a shot against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin center Maggie Scannell (14) plays the puck along the boards against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin left wing Charlotte Pieckenhagen (24) and Ohio State center Grace McCoshen (12) chase the puck in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin defender Vivian Jungels (20) and Ohio State right wing Sloane Matthews (22) pursue the puck behind the Ohio State net in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin right wing Lacey Eden (6) celebrates her goal against Ohio State during the first period in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin center Cassie Hall (11) leads a rush against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Teammates check on Wisconsin center Cassie Hall (11) after she scored and then hit the boards against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin center Cassie Hall (11) celebrates her goal against Ohio State during the second period in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin goaltender Rhyah Stewart (1) plays the puck against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin center Maggie Scannell (14) looks to pass the puck against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
The puck bounces free in front of Ohio State goaltender Hailey MacLeod (35) as Wisconsin and Ohio State players scramble for it in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin. Play was whistled dead.
Wisconsin defender Emma Venusio (21) plucks a puck out of the air in a game against Ohio State on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin right wing Lacey Eden (6) and Ohio State defender Sara Swinderski (4) collide at the puck in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin center Cassie Hall (11) passes the puck around Ohio State right wing Jordyn Petrie (19) in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin right wing Lacey Eden (6) advances the puck while Ohio State defender Sara Swinderski (4) pursues in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin right wing Hannah Halverson (8) fires a shot past Ohio State defender Brooke Disher (28) in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin center Maggie Scannell (14) braces for contact with Ohio State defender Emma Peschel (7) in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin right wing Lacey Eden (6) celebrates with Wisconsin defender Laney Potter (22) after Potter’s goal against Ohio State during the third period in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin center Finley McCarthy (2) celebrates her goal against Ohio State during the third period in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin center Maggie Scannell (14) and Wisconsin center Finley McCarthy (2) celebrate McCarthy’s goal against Ohio State during the third period in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.1 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin defender Laney Potter (22) picks up the puck to lead a rush against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers won 4-1.
1 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin defender Laney Potter (22) picks up the puck to lead a rush against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers won 4-1.
2 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin right wing Lacey Eden (6) looks for a shot against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.3 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin center Maggie Scannell (14) plays the puck along the boards against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.4 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin left wing Charlotte Pieckenhagen (24) and Ohio State center Grace McCoshen (12) chase the puck in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.5 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin defender Vivian Jungels (20) and Ohio State right wing Sloane Matthews (22) pursue the puck behind the Ohio State net in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.6 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin right wing Lacey Eden (6) celebrates her goal against Ohio State during the first period in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.7 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin center Cassie Hall (11) leads a rush against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
8 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Teammates check on Wisconsin center Cassie Hall (11) after she scored and then hit the boards against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.9 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin center Cassie Hall (11) celebrates her goal against Ohio State during the second period in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.10 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin goaltender Rhyah Stewart (1) plays the puck against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.11 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin center Maggie Scannell (14) looks to pass the puck against Ohio State in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.12 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
The puck bounces free in front of Ohio State goaltender Hailey MacLeod (35) as Wisconsin and Ohio State players scramble for it in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin. Play was whistled dead.13 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin defender Emma Venusio (21) plucks a puck out of the air in a game against Ohio State on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.14 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin right wing Lacey Eden (6) and Ohio State defender Sara Swinderski (4) collide at the puck in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.15 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin center Cassie Hall (11) passes the puck around Ohio State right wing Jordyn Petrie (19) in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.
16 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin right wing Lacey Eden (6) advances the puck while Ohio State defender Sara Swinderski (4) pursues in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.17 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin right wing Hannah Halverson (8) fires a shot past Ohio State defender Brooke Disher (28) in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.18 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin center Maggie Scannell (14) braces for contact with Ohio State defender Emma Peschel (7) in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.19 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin right wing Lacey Eden (6) celebrates with Wisconsin defender Laney Potter (22) after Potter’s goal against Ohio State during the third period in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.20 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin center Finley McCarthy (2) celebrates her goal against Ohio State during the third period in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.21 / 21No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey at LaBahn Arena
Wisconsin center Maggie Scannell (14) and Wisconsin center Finley McCarthy (2) celebrate McCarthy’s goal against Ohio State during the third period in a game Sunday, February 8, 2026, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.Here is a rundown of how Wisconsin’s Olympians fared in their first game back.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLaila Edwards, one goal, one assist.
Caroline Harvey, three assists.
McNaugton, 20 saves, including 14 in the second period.
Adela Sapovalivova (Czechia), two goals.
Kirsten Simms, one goal, one assist
Four of those points came during the first period. Three came on Sapovalivova’s first goal of the night.
The play started when Simms took a cross ice pass at the top of the right circle from Harvey and dropped the puck to Sapovailvova at the goal line. Her shot from the right side went off a Beaver's skate into the goal to give the Badgers a 3-0 edge at the 15-minute 42-second mark of the first period.
Sapovailvova admitted she caught a break.
“I wanted to pass the backdoor to Laila, but I hit her skates and it went in,” she said. “So, it counts. It's still a goal, but I didn't want to do that.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSapovalivova’s goal followed scores from juniors Laney Potter and Cassie Hall during the first 9 minutes of a dominant first period. UW owned a 20-2 edge in shots on goal to equal the Beavers’ total for the entire evening.
The only drama came with 1:25 in the second period when Bemidji State's Hailey Armstrong was awarded a penalty shot that McNaughton had no problem stopping.
“After odd minutes and odd practice times in Milan, it was nice to just kind of step right back into it and get into the playoff flow and know that I'm confident in the net and kind of back like I never left,” McNaughton said. “It was definitely great to have a great game, regardless of if it was shut out or not. It felt good in the net. So it was a good start to the playoff run.”
Johnson agreed, though he also feels there is another gear for his players to reach, particularly for Harvey and Edwards, who ranked 1-2 in minutes played for Team USA.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement4:39 “They played good tonight, but there's still another step in both of them and part of that is the emotional drain of what they've experienced and what's transpired in the last week of their lives,” Johnson said. “And all of a sudden you've got to jump back on the ice and play a playoff game. That's asking a lot, but they did well.
“It's nice to get them back into our fold. But, you know, there's more in their tank. And hopefully, you know, tomorrow we might see a little bit more.”
More: Lacey Eden's drive, leadership fueled UW hockey's late-season run
More: How Wisconsin's Olympians resume campus life, shift to playoff mode
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin hockey shuts out Bemidji State in Game 1 of WCHA playoff
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