Badgers Take on Penn State in Frozen Four Road Test

Mo. Basuony

Published: March 22, 2026 4:31 PM ET

Badgers Take on Penn State in Frozen Four Road Test

Wisconsin enters a marquee semifinal at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pa. The Badgers make their 17th Frozen Four appearance this weekend.

Paths to the semifinals

Wisconsin arrives at 33-4-2 after a shutout win over Quinnipiac. Kelly Gorbatenko recorded her second hat trick this season in that victory.

Penn State advanced with a win over UConn to reach its first Frozen Four. The Nittany Lions hold a 33-5-0 record this year.

Conference context and history

Penn State is usually associated with the Big Ten. In women’s hockey, they represent Atlantic Hockey America, according to season notes.

The programs have met only four times. Their most recent series ended split in 2022.

Key players and statistics

Penn State leans on Tessa Janecke. She has 46 points and averages more than 1.5 points per game.

Janecke is a Patty Kazmaier top-three finalist for 2026.
She played on Team USA’s gold medal team at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
Grace Outwater has surpassed 40 points this season.
Maddy Christian and Katelyn Roberts each sit above 30 points.

The Nittany Lions rank fourth in total goals this year. Their defense allows just 1.32 goals per game, the nation’s best mark.

Wisconsin scorers

The Badgers average more than five goals per game this season. Laila Edwards returned full-time to the forward line after leading the NCAA in goals last year.

Caroline Harvey, Lacey Eden, and Kirsten Simms provide top-end scoring. Kelly Gorbatenko has emerged as a secondary scoring threat.

If Kirsten Simms scores this weekend, she would reach 100 career goals.
That milestone would place her with Brianna Decker, Hilary Knight, Meghan Duggan, and Lacey Eden.