In its first time back home since November, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team continued to dominate opponents by sweeping Minnesota-Duluth.
The top ranked Badgers (22-2-2) beat the Bulldogs (12-11-1) in overtime Saturday afternoon in a hard fought 4-3 victory. UW was able to shut out Minnesota-Duluth Friday in game won by a score of 2-0.
Senior forward Brooke Ammerman gave the Badgers their winning goal just 44 seconds into the overtime period. Ammerman scored on a backhanded shot into an open net after a shot by junior forward Brianna Decker rebounded her way.
“Decker made a nice shot on net, and I was able to sneak the puck in,” Ammerman said. “To be able to win a game like that and come home, it is really fun.”
Both Ammerman and Decker had two goals in Saturday’s game, with one and two assists respectively.
The duo – along with senior forward Carolyne Prevost, who had three assists on the night – continues to dominate play as a line. While the Badgers gave up a goal just nine seconds into the game, they were able to fight back and tie the game up. At 6:44 in the first period, Decker scored from inside the right circle to make the score 1-1, with assists going to Prevost and Ammerman.
“We don’t like to start a game letting in a goal, but again it is a chance to see how you respond,” Head Coach Mark Johnson said. “I thought we responded well off the goal. … Overall it was a pretty good effort, and I am certainly pleased with the victory.”
The Badgers took the lead off a pair of power play goals in the second period. Decker again got one past Duluth’s goaltender Jennifer Harss, this time on a perfectly executed give-and-go with Prevost at the 13-minute mark. Ammerman made it a 3-1 lead just 2:03 later as the puck slipped between Harss’ legs.
Duluth didn’t let up and scored a goal of its own 32 seconds later on a shot that sailed past Wisconsin’s sophomore goalie Alex Rigsby. Duluth tied it up, 3-3, in the third period, sending the game into overtime.
Wisconsin posted 31 shots on the night compared to the Bulldogs’ 25.
“We ended up sneaking a lot in today; not as many shots as we usually get, but when you play Duluth it is always a transition game and a lot of the time the game is played in the neutral zone,” Decker said. “Not as many shots as we would like, but at least we got some in.”
Game one of the series was a much different story as the Badgers were able to shut out the Bulldogs in their 2-0 victory, but it wasn’t their best performance.
“It was a game that never really got any flow to it or rhythm,” said Johnson. “Little things that can make a big difference in a game we didn’t do well, but the most important thing is winning the game.”
Wisconsin’s first goal came from junior forward Alev Kelter off a slap shot in the right circle at 2:56 in the second period; her first goal of the season. Sophomore Madison Packer put away the second goal just two minutes later on a backhanded shot inside the slot. While previously a defenseman for the Badgers, Kelter has shown significant success up front.
“I was just coming off the bench so I was right there,” Kelter said. “To jump up in the play is something that usually happens a lot as a defenseman, so just to have a forward role is pretty exciting.”
While a successful night, UW was outshot by the Bulldogs 36-23. Rigsby had 36 saves in the game and 58 in the series to help give the Badgers the win.
Up next, Wisconsin will continue its home stretch facing Bemidji State Friday and Saturday at the Kohl Center.
