Although the Wisconsin women's hockey team played in two completely different settings Friday and Saturday, the results were the same, as the Badgers swept the Bemidji State Beavers 4-0 and 3-0.
Friday's game, played at the Kohl Center, saw the Badgers take a 2-0 first-period lead on goals from sophomore forward Kyla Sanders and junior forward Angie Keseley.
In the second period, junior forward Kayla Hagen scored when freshman forward Mallory Deluce found her wide open at the top of the crease, beating Bemidji State senior goalie Emily Brookshaw for the 3-0 lead.
Senior forward Jinelle Zaugg put Wisconsin up 4-0 on a slap shot in the third period to cap the day's scoring.
In goal for Wisconsin, junior Jessie Vetter made 11 saves for her 24th career shutout.
Saturday's game was played at the Eagle's Nest in Verona because of the men's basketball game at the Kohl Center.
The Badgers once again jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Zaugg and senior defenseman Mikka Nordby. Nordby's tally was her first of the season.
Sophomore forward Meghan Duggan scored in the third period when Zaugg found Duggan out in front, who banged the puck home for the 3-0 lead.
Sophomore Alannah McCready recorded a 12-save shutout for the Badgers. She has yet to give up a goal in three career starts.
Brookshaw stood tough all weekend in goal for Bemidji State, as she has done all season while receiving little help from her offense. Brookshaw shut out Wisconsin in a 0-0 tie in November.
As I shook hands with her I told her she's a pain to play against,"" Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson said. ""She's done that for four years now, and thank goodness she's graduating.""
The Badgers peppered Brookshaw with 88 shots over the two games. Johnson felt it was important they attack Brookshaw early on each game because it was important to take Bemijdi State out of the game and prevent the Beavers from generating confidence in the third period.
""If you can jump on them early and get a couple of goals it eliminates getting into a third period and having to score a goal. It's a big difference,"" Johnson said.
The setting of the Eagle's Nest on Saturday provided a stark contrast to the usually mostly empty Kohl Center. The Verona rink hosted close to 800 people on Saturday, which filled the small rink and made for a better atmosphere than what the team usually experiences.
""When you look up at the stands, there aren't people dressed as seats,"" senior defender and captain Emily Morris said about the Eagle's Nest.
""I mentioned to our players on the bench in the middle of the third period, 'Take a look at what you're playing in front of, it's standing room only and there's a lot of people that are coming to support the program,'"" Johnson said.
Wisconsin heads to Minnesota Saturday and Sunday to face the Golden Gophers in the Badgers' final regular season series.
