With two 7-0 victories over Ohio State at the Kohl Center this weekend, the No. 1 ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team extended its current unbeaten streak to seven and gave coach Mark Johnson his 200th career win.
The weekend sweep, along with two wins by Minnesota, sets up a No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup next weekend in Minneapolis. The last time the teams met last October, the Badgers lost in a shootout and won 2-1.
“It creates an excitement during practice throughout the week,” Johnson said. “It just creates a lot of things that normally don’t happen in a normal weekend for us. It’s all positive, it gives the players the opportunity to go out and play against good competition and see where we’re at.”
The Badgers will enter the matchup with significant momentum after convincing wins over WCHA foe Ohio State. On Saturday, the Badgers took 50 shots on goal, as goaltender Jessie Vetter recorded her 10th shutout of the season for the third straight year. The shutout is the 35th of Vetter’s career, an NCAA record.
Angie Keseley, who last week earned WCHA Defensive Player of the Week, moved back to her normal forward position and scored two first period goals to give the Badgers an early advantage. Keseley, now with 14 goals for the season, said the return to forward was welcomed.
“I got moved back to defense for the weekend,” Keseley said. “It was a big change, but I had a lot of support from my coaches and teammates. It was a good experience, but I was happy to be back at forward again.”
Sophomore forward Hillary Knight and senior center Erika Lawler notched assists on both goals. In the second period, sophomore defenseman Malee Windmeier lit the lamp on a power play for her first goal this season with help from Keseley and freshman forward Brooke Ammerman. Later in the period, junior forward Kyla Sanders, Knight and junior forward Jasmine Giles scored to increase the Badgers lead to six. Knight’s goal was her 31st of the season, putting her in sole possession of second most all-time by a Badger. Lawler, along with Keseley, was credited with assists on both Sanders’ and Knight’s goals, giving her 31 for the season. Keseley had a career-high five-point day, while Lawler tied her personal best with four assists.
Junior forward Meghan Duggan capped the scoring with her 14th goal nine minutes into the third period. Knight said the team discussed coming out with intensity each period and accomplished that goal.
“We were just on our game,” she said. “We talked winning the first and second and third [periods]. We just chiseled away. Now we get to play the Gophers — it’s exciting.”
With the win, Johnson, who this week was appointed to lead the 2010 Olympic women’s ice hockey team, improved his career record to 200-38-20 in seven seasons. Johnson said he was happy the busy week hadn’t distracted the team.
“It’s been a real good week,” he said. “Obviously, one of my concerns was how we would play this week with preparation. We had a good week in practice, a lot of energy, and the result was six pretty good periods of hockey. We put ourselves in a position to go up to Minnesota and play there next Saturday and Sunday.”
On Friday, Lawler scored just 26 seconds into the game on a rebound of a Keseley shot. Knight proceeded to score two first-period goals, giving the Badgers a 3-0 lead. Although neither team got on the board in the second, Wisconsin added four third-period goals to put the Ohio State away. Lawler, Sanders, sophomore forward Mallory Deluce and freshman defenseman Brittany Haverstock all found the net. The goal was the first of the season for Haverstock.
With seven points on the weekend, Knight replaced Minnesota’s Monique Lamoureux as the nation’s top scorer. With the Badger’s matchup at Minnesota looming next weekend, it will not only be a battle between the nation’s top teams, but also the nation’s leading scorers.
Knight, who moved to second place all-time for goals in a season at UW, commented on the high stakes of next weekend’s series at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis.
“It’s extremely exciting. Coach just said they probably are going to have [big] crowds up there. It is a great rivalry, and it always fun to play them.” Knight said. “They know a bunch of us, and we know them. They are a great team, and it’s always fun to play a great team, regardless if they are one or two.”
Knight, who is only a sophomore, is emerging as a serious candidate for the Patty Kazmaier Award, which is awarded annually to the nation’s top player. Keseley talked about what playing on a line with a player of Knight’s caliber is like.
“Hilary is an outstanding player. She is just a natural goal scorer; it’s great to be on her line,” Keseley said. “Playing with her and Erika both on the national team, it’s a great honor. They make me a better player.”
Now, though, the Badgers turn their attention to their Border Battle rivals. The Gophers soundly defeated Minnesota State, 9-1 and 7-4, respectively, this weekend. Johnson said he looks forward to the challenge.
“We will probably be ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the polls this week,” he said. “Obviously, they are a very good team, and they have done a lot of good things with that group. The same thing can be said here. Hopefully we’ll have big crowds who can see some good hockey.”
Keseley said the team is focused and excited about the matchup.
“Next weekend is a big weekend,” she said. “Coach said we’ll probably be ranked No.1 and they will be No. 2. Obviously every time we go there it’s a big weekend; it’s a great rivalry. … I think we’re going to prepare well all week and hopefully be successful next weekend.”
