After a strong 4-1 victory Friday afternoon fueled by freshman forward Angie Keseley's hat trick, the Wisconsin women's hockey team (31-4-1 overall) hoped to wrap up their first round Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff series against North Dakota Saturday.
The Badgers did exactly what they had to and ended North Dakota's season with a decisive 6-0 victory.
The first period was somewhat quiet, with the Badgers entering the first intermission with a 1-0 lead. Sophomore forward Jinelle Zaugg found the back of the net with a power-play goal with just under 12 minutes remaining. Freshman forward Erika Lawler and junior Sara Bauer were credited with assists on the play.
The second period was a different story for the Badgers, as they netted three goals. Junior Cyndy Kenyon put one past the North Dakota goaltender just a mere 1:32 seconds into the peroid, pushing UW's lead to two goals, with the assist once again received from Bauer. Thirty seconds later, UW freshman forward Erika Lawler scored her 11th goal of the season assisted by fellow freshmen Tia Hanson and Angie Keseley, extending the Badger lead to 3-0.
After giving up two quick goals, North Dakota countered by pulling their senior goaltender Amber Hasbargen who had only eight saves in the first 22 minutes of the game.
Replacing Hasbargen was freshman goalie Kari Gabrielson, who made her collegiate debut. She tallied 13 saves in nearly 38 minutes of play, and with just over three minutes remaining in the second period, senior forward Nikki Burish became the sixth Badger to reach double-digit goals this season with her 10th at 16:57.
We played well this weekend,\ Burish said after Saturday's game. ""We're just hoping to continue this play throughout the playoffs and keep playing well.""
The Badgers maintained the momentum in the third period and were able to produce two more goals. The first goal was scored on a delayed penalty when junior defender Bobbi-Jo Slusar unleashed a slap shot from the blue line that went just wide of the net.
After hitting off the wall behind the net, an easy opportunity was fulfilled when junior forward Phoebe Monteleone was able to squeak the puck past the North Dakota goalie into the left side of the net.
A minute and a half later, Lawler took credit for her second goal of the day after she was the last Badger to touch the puck before the North Dakota defender accidentally knocked the puck into her own net. Badger senior goaltender Meghan Horras made 18 saves in the shutout win to set a new school record with her 17th career shut out.
The Badgers will remain the No. 1 seed in the WCHA semifinal game, Saturday March 11 in Minneapolis. Barring any upsets, Wisconsin is set to play St. Cloud State who swept their series against Ohio State, 2-1, 6-3.
\
