La Crosse’s Katie Kotlowski now a three-time NCAA women’s hockey champion, after Badgers beat Ohio State
La Crosse’s Katie Kotlowski is a three-time National Champion.
Kotlowski and the top-ranked University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team won the title Sunday in incredibly dramatic fashion.
Down a goal with 18 seconds left in regulation, Wisconsin’s Kirsten Simms scored on a penalty shot to tie it after a successful Wisconsin challenge
TIE GAME. TIE GAME. SIMMS. BADGERS REMAIN ON THE POWER PLAY (0:29 remaining). pic.twitter.com/Hs7d5ODVli
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) March 23, 2025
She then delivered the winner 2:49 into sudden-death overtime to rally top-seed Wisconsin to a 4-3 victory over No. 2 seed Ohio State.
THE BADGERS BATTLE BACK FOR THE NATTY IN THE OVERTIME WIN 😤 @badgerwhockey takes back the national title from the Buckeyes for the second time in the last three years 🏆 pic.twitter.com/1HMLkuVKSh
— espnW (@espnW) March 23, 2025
It was the third straight season the two schools squared off for the NCAA championship. OSU won last year 1-0. Wisconsin won the year before 1-0.
La Crosse’s Kotlowski was also starting on defense her freshman year, when the Badgers beat Northeastern 2-1 in overtime to win the 2021 title.
Wisconsin finishes this season 38-1-2. Their only loss came to Ohio State.
TOP PHOTO: La Crosse’s Katie Kotlowski (right) and her Badgers teammates celebrate after winning the NCAA championship on March 24, 2025.