DULUTH, Minn. – All-season long the Wisconsin women’s hockey team dominated offensively. However, Minnesota goaltender Noora Ray proved to be the factor that would stop the Badger powerhouse in the final game of the season.
Although losing the national championship game, the Badgers outshot the Gophers 44-25. Head coach Mark Johnson felt his team was simply unable to put the puck in the net and turn the game around despite a strong showing.
“We battled, made a few mistakes in situations, didn’t execute in others but the effort was there,” Johnson said. “We needed a break or a bounce tonight and didn’t get it in the second half of the game.”
Raty posted 42 saves Sunday night and kept UW off the scoreboard in both the second and third periods, giving way for Minnesota’s 4-2 victory.
Wisconsin was not short of quality opportunities. Late in the first period after coming back from a two-goal deficit, UW found itself with a two-man advantage for just over a minute after two tripping calls against the Gophers. Unable to find the back of the net, UW instead gave up a goal after Minnesota capitalized on a penalty shot after a tripping call was made on a Gopher break away.
“We had an opportunity. There were several points in the game you look for, but we didn’t take advantage of it. … We had the opportunity with the 5 v. 3 power play,” Johnson said. “If you score there it will take a little wind out of their sail after the two goal start.”
In the second period UW was on the power play with just over three minutes left to play. Needing a boost to tie the game up and find energy to close out the period, the Badgers came up short. The Gopher penalty kill denied all opportunity and created a break away opportunity for themselves, forcing Wisconsin goaltender Alex Rigsby to step up and make the stop.
Again with just under three minutes to go in the final period, Wisconsin found itself in power play situation. After pulling Rigsby, UW sought a two-man advantage. Raty proved nearly invincible in the final minutes of the game. With 20 shots alone coming in that last period, Wisconsin turned on the heat in a comeback attempt. With all 20 shots on net ending up in saves, Wisconsin just could not find a way to get the puck in the net.
Coming into the championship game, Wisconsin knew they would be facing a tough defensive opponent. Allowing only three goals in her last six games, Raty serves as base for the Minnesota defensive. The unit was consistently rated number one in the nation with an average of 1.32 goals allowed per game. Sunday’s final game showed nothing less and displayed why it is the defense that leads a team to a championship.
Responding quickly to the two-goal deficit the team faced to begin play, the offense was not without accomplishment. It only took UW 2:40 after falling two goals behind to put the puck away. In the end, the response created in the first period was unable to be repeated again, leading the Badgers to end their season without the championship trophy.
Leaving Wisconsin is a senior class that has been the leading force behind the strong offense. Senior forwards Carolyne Prevost, Brooke Ammerman and captain Hilary Knight highlighted the UW scoreboard in their four years as Badgers, combining for 196 points this season. Although unable to pull off a win in the final game, they did not end their careers without a fight.
