(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON – Three different Badgers scored to help the top-ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team to a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota State Mavericks at LaBahn Arena on Sunday.
Lacey Eden and Casey O’Brien scored their second goals of the weekend. Sophomore Cassie Hall joined them on the scoresheet and Laila Edwards notched two points for the Badgers (22-1-1, 16-1-1 WCHA) with two assists.
The Badgers applied consistent pressure in the first periods and Hall capitalized, opening the scoring with 2:47 left in the period. Edwards generated a turnover in the neutral zone and sent the puck forward to Kirsten Simms. Simms took a shot and Hall tucked in the rebound to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
Wisconsin continued to generate scoring opportunities, outshooting Minnesota State (10-11-1, 4-11-1 WCHA) 23-4 in the second period, but wasn’t able to find the back of the net.
Eden scored her second goal of the weekend off a feed from Potter to give UW a 2-0 lead with 16:30 left in the period.
Eden made her mark on the game again with a no-look pass to set up O’Brien who took the one-timer and smashed it into the back of the net. The Mavericks got one back with six and a half minutes to play to close out the game with a 3-1 Wisconsin win.
Ava McNaughton stopped 17 of 18 shots to earn her NCAA-leading 21st win of the season.
Notes of the Game
- Wisconsin outshot the Mavericks 53-18. The Badgers have outshot their opponents in 17 of their 24 games this season.
- The Badgers are averaging one power-play goal a game in the past six games with two on the weekend series against the Mavericks.
- Wisconsin has not allowed more than one goal in 17 of their 24 matchups this season.
Straight from the Rink
UW Head Coach Mark Johnson
About finding a rhythm in the game:
“I mentioned to the group a minute ago that this time in the season, things aren’t easy. What can we control? We control our work habits, we can control our energy. In the first two periods, we created a lot of opportunities and we were rewarded, but you have to stay with it.”
On the Badgers strong third line:
“They bring energy, so maybe when the game is not going the way you want it to go, they can go out there and bring some energy through a forecheck line. Woz (Sarah Wozniewicz) is such a good skater, Claire (Enright) has a great hockey IQ.”
Junior Claire Enright
On the third line’s performance:
“I think we did really well. We are a great, tight-knit line, and it’s just nice to see us working hard. We play off of each other so well. We are all great friends, so it obviously helps to have that connection.”
Lacey Eden
On takeaways from the weekend:
“That’s a good team over there [in Minnesota State], they play really hard and play a mature style of game. It’s definitely good to have a few games where maybe we’re not getting all of the puck bounces or a game where the goalie stands on their head, and kind of just pushes us to be better.”
Up Next: The Badgers hit the road for the Land of 10,000 Lakes to take on St. Thomas in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Puck drop on Friday is set for 7 p.m. while Saturday’s series finale begins at 3 p.m.
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