(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON – The No. 2 Wisconsin women’s hockey team (33-4-2) advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four this Saturday, dancing past Quinnipiac in the Regional Final at LaBahn Arena, 6-0.
The win was one of Wisconsin’s most well-rounded of the season, scoring two goals in each period. Junior Kelly Gorbatenko led the offense with her second hat trick of the season, while the Badger defense and goaltender Ava McNaughton shutout the Bobcats after allowing just 17 shots on goal.
It also marked the 700th career victory of head coach Mark Johnson, the first NCAA women’s hockey head coach to reach that milestone
Wisconsin’s high energy was apparent from the first puck drop. It was Gorbatenko who made it 1-0 just three minutes into the first period, being the receiving end of a long passing sequence from Cassie Hall and Lacey Eden.
Despite a large lead in shots-on-goal throughout the first period, it took a power play in the final three minutes for the Badgers to score again. This time it was Kirsten Simms who went off the top-corner of the post after the initial power play face off.
Freshman Adéla Šapovalivová collected UW’s first goal of the second period, once again starting the frame off with a bang. Šapovalivová scored her fifth postseason goal in five games after a minute of play.
Gorbatenko then tallied another, to give the Badgers a 4-0 lead entering the third period.
The Bobcats found themselves on a power play halfway through the third, opting to pull their goalie for a 6-on-4 scoring attack. Eden countered with a short-handed empty net goal, her third shorthanded goal of the season.
Gorbatenko then completed her hat trick, and recorded her 100th career point, with a game-sealing one-timer from Mackenzie Jones, putting a pin in the 6-0 victory.
UW outshot Quinnipiac 51-17 and goaltender Ava McNaughton recorded 17 saves.
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