The University of Wisconsin women's hockey team played their second series of the season against a struggling Vermont Catamounts team at the Kohl Center this past weekend. The Badgers swept the Catamounts, winning both games 5-0.
Coming into the series, the Catamounts were hoping to reverse their fortunes after being swept by Clarkson in their previous series. The No. 2 Badgers came into the series looking to find their rhythm on offense after splitting with the No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.
Sunday, Badgers' forward Jinelle Zaugg scored just 29 seconds into the game with an assist from Sara Bauer. The Badgers scored again at the 10-minute mark of the first period when defender Bobbi-Jo Slusar jumped into the fray in front of the Catamounts net and received a nice pass from forward Angie Keseley.
Later in the first period, Cyndy Kenyon scored on the power play when Vermont goalie Shivaun Siegl left a healthy rebound, which Kenyon capitalized on.
In the second period, Siegl was pulled from the game in favor of sophomore goalie Katie Nichols. But the Badgers got things started early once again when captain Sharon Cole scored just 39 seconds into the period.
However, the Catamounts' defense tightened up and allowed just one more goal during the reminder of the game.
Freshman forward Tia Hanson tallied late in the second period, which gave the Badgers' a 5-0 lead.
Wisconsin junior goalie Christine Dufour got the shutout, her first win of the season and was the first star of the game.
Saturday's game also displayed the Badgers' offensive power from the start of the game.
The Badgers survived a five-on-three Vermont power play early in the first period due to a game misconduct penalty on forward Kayla Hagan and a two-minute minor penalty on Slusar.
After killing off the penalties, the Badgers responded with a goal from Keseley and Bauer added another goal soon after.
The Badgers scored again when Cole received a nice pass from Bauer midway through the second period. Bauer added her second goal of the game minutes later and Zaugg scored the final goal in the middle of the third period.
The Badgers ended up with 68 shots on goal, tying the program's record for shots on goal in one game.
There were points in the game where the Catamounts found it hard to even move the puck out of their zone and were forced to ice the puck in order to receive a stoppage in play or change players.
Vermont goalie Katie Nichols made 63 saves and was the third star of the game, while Bauer finished with two goals and one assist, making her the number one star. Bauer has collected seven points in the first four games this season.
"One thing about this weekend is that a lot people got an opportunity to play," head coach Mark Johnson said. "We played four lines both nights, so everybody got more experience … so from an offensive standpoint, we created a lot of chances [to score.]"
The Badgers will be splitting time between Dufour and Meghan Horras for the time being. Freshman goalie Jessie Vetter may eventually see playing time as well.
The Badgers will travel to Mankato, Minn., to take on the Minnesota State Mavericks next weekend. The Badgers are undefeated against Minnesota State, holding a 23-0-1 record against the Mavericks. But Johnson is still worried about the team losing focus and wants to make sure it comes out strong against Minnesota State.
"[Minnesota State's All Seasons Arena is] a smaller building, it's a smaller rink, so things will happen a lot quicker," Johnson said. "So for a couple days we'll prepare to go up there."
