Sports

Ice Badgers face-off against each other

Led by the three-goal performance of Junior Jinelle Zaugg, the Cardinal team earned a 7-4 victory over the White team in Saturday's annual Cardinal-White game, the Badgers' annual intra-squad scrimmage.

The defending national champions, who will officially open their season against Quinnipiac on Friday, were broken into two squads and played an abbreviated game that featured two 17-minute periods, and penalty shots on all penalties instead of the usual power play advantage.

"Our goal is to do our best," senior captain Bobbi-Jo Slusar said. "It's a good starting point for us.

With the modified penalty rules, shortened game length and untypical line match-ups, the final tally of 7-4 was more of a reflection of the speed and explosiveness of the team than a lack of defense or goaltending.

"Our team is going to be extremely talented, and our level of play is going to increase," Slusar said confidently. "I think we're going to be good."

The scoring started with a Cardinal goal 5:52 into the first period when sophomore Kayla Hagen scored on last year's Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player Jessie Vetter. Eight seconds later Zaugg scored her first goal, as the Cardinal squad took control of the game. A Sara Bauer goal with just over a minute to play in the first period extended the Cardinal lead to 4-0.

White did, however, pick up their play in the second period, outscoring the Cardinal team 4-3 on the strength of two Meghan Dugan goals. White eventually cut the lead to just two goals, before a second Bauer goal made the score 7-4 and put the game away with 2:43 to play.

Goalies Christine Dufour and Jessie Vetter, with 11 and 8 saves respectively, played well considering the set-up of the game was so conducive to scoring. Freshman Alannah McCready gave up five second period goals, but did add a couple of strong saves.

The game also served as an opportunity for the freshmen to make their first appearances and show off their talent.

"It's not too nerve-wracking, and it gives some of the new players a chance to get comfortable in their surroundings," Slusar said. "It's a new level of play for the freshmen.

Four freshmen, Dugan, Kyla Sanders, Emily Kranz and Jasmine Giles scored in the scrimmage, and Giles also provided sparks with a highlight reel assist on Kranz's second period goal for White.