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Hockey unable to beat UMD
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Also by Michael Bleach:
- Hockey unable to beat UMD (December 3, 2007)
- Badgers face rival UMD (November 30, 2007)
- Badgers anxious to end 3 game skid (November 20, 2007)
- Four Nations Cup awaits select Badgers (November 7, 2007)
- Badgers fail to earn sweep at home (November 5, 2007)
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- Badgers can secure home ice with victory (March 1, 2002)
- Badger men's hockey releases 2001-02 schedule (July 14, 2001)
- Badgers look to bite Bulldogs, snap four-game slide (February 3, 2006)
by Michael Bleach
Monday, December 3, 2007
After being swept at home this weekend by No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth, the No. 4 Wisconsin women's hockey team now finds itself in an unprecedented slump — after dropping two games this weekend, the back-to-back defending champions record over the past six games is just 1-4-1.
On Saturday, the Badgers suffered what might have been their
worst loss of the season, as the team gave up two goals in the game's final 40
seconds to lose 3-2.
At the start of the game, UW found itself in an early hole
when UMD's Karine Demeule scored on a nifty backhand less than two minutes into
the first period.
"The early goal put us on our heels," head coach Mark
Johnson said. "I thought we were going to come out with a bunch of energy — we
had talked about that at our meeting this morning, and the kids seemed ready to
go, but we didn't come out with energy. We didn't play very well in the first 20
minutes."
To try and kick start his team, Johnson pulled a surprising
move and benched the alternate captain, senior Jinelle Zaugg.
"I wasn't getting much out of her," Johnson said. "She sat
most of the second period and the third period. You have to compete and you
have to play to earn ice time, and I wasn't seeing that. She was given a lot of
opportunities, but she didn't respond."
"Coach was just trying to mix it up and see who played well
with each other," goaltender Jessie Vetter added. "Whatever he does seems to
work, so I am sure there was reason for it."
The Badgers, without Zaugg, were able tie the game at 1-1 on
a second period power play, when junior Erika Lawler was able to tip in a shot
from sophomore Jasmine Giles.
Wisconsin was then able to take their first lead in three
games, when Meghan Duggan received a pass from Giles and ripped a scorching
slap shot that found the back of the net, giving the Badgers a 2-1 lead.
The Badgers looked like they were well on their way to
victory, until the Bulldogs pulled their goaltender to put an extra forward on
the ice with one minute left in the game. The move paid off as UMD's Iya
Gavrilova managed to tip in the puck while there was mayhem in front of the
net.
"Those are the type of goals that just ends up on their
stick," Vetter said. "We need to get a clear before that happens, but we will
get it by the end of the season."
In overtime, UW never had a chance as UMD's Saara Tuominen
found a streaking Gavrilova, who beat Vetter and scored the game winner only 15
seconds into the overtime period.
"Duluth is just a fast and shifty team," Vetter said. "That
is one team that you definitely don't want to give breakaways to. They are just
finishers and if you give them that much time and space on a breakaway, they
are going to make something happen. The girl fooled me and made a really good
play."
On Friday, the Badgers struggled to find their offense in a
3-1 loss.
Wisconsin struggled on the power play as the team ended up
going 0-for-7 on power play chances in the game.
Johnson, though, does not think that the loss can be
attributed to a lack of effort.
"I am pleased with the effort," Johnson said. "The big thing
is not to get frustrated. If we are not able to score as many goals as we want,
we have to play hard and find other ways to win games."
Even though they lost both games, the Badgers are looking
forward to the next time they play Minnesota Duluth.
"We are already marking it on our calendar when we get to play them up
in Duluth," Vetter said. "It will be a very good series."
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