The No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey team (4-0-0 overall, 2-0-0 WCHA) extended their unbeaten streak to 31 games after sweeping No. 6 North Dakota (1-3-0, 0-2-0) at the Kohl Center this weekend. Wisconsin cruised to a 5-2 victory Saturday and closed the series with a 3-2 overtime win Sunday.
Senior forward Carolyne Prevost got off to a hot start in her first regular season game Saturday, netting three goals in the Badgers' WCHA conference opener. The senior was one of four Badgers who missed last weekend's series against Lindenwood while participating in Team Canada's fall training camp.
Prevost's most crucial goal gave Wisconsin a 2-1 lead late in the second period. Senior forward Brooke Ammerman's pass got through a North Dakota defenseman, leaving Prevost one-on-one with senior goaltender Stephanie Ney.
Prevost backhanded the puck into the top of the net, having scored with a low shot on a breakaway in the first period.
Each of Prevost's scores came off of a pass from Ammerman.
""It's funny because we've never played together as line mates before,"" Prevost said of Ammerman. ""But we had great chemistry tonight and she just seemed to find me at the right places.""
Sophomore goaltender Alex Rigsby was dominant in the net Saturday, totaling 34 saves.
In addition to Prevost, junior forward Brianna Decker and senior forward Hilary Knight each tallied a goal in the third period to put the game out of reach.
Sunday afternoon's contest played out much differently.
Wisconsin did not lead until the final horn, when Knight scored off of a pass from Prevost midway through overtime.
Although they could not convert early on, the Badgers' late-game heroics were enough to pick up the ‘W' Sunday.
""Our power play didn't work as well as we wanted it to in the first period,"" said Knight. ""Once we got the puck on net it gave us a little bit more momentum.""
The Badgers were held scoreless in the first period despite eight minutes on the power play. Wisconsin then could not match North Dakota's pressure kill, as the Fighting Sioux took a 1-0 lead after Andrea Dalen's five-on-three goal late in the first period.
""That can frustrate a team,"" UW head coach Mark Johnson said. ""But then all of a sudden you get a power play late in the game and, when you really need a goal, [the power play] came through for us.""
Wisconsin trailed 2-1 late in regulation, but the Badgers took advantage of a Fighting Sioux penalty as Ammerman scored her fifth goal of the season with one minute left.
The game-tying score came after a frenzy of shots from the Badgers. Ney knocked down Prevost's attempt, but the puck dropped between the goaltender and a prowling Ammerman, who snuck the puck between Ney's legs.
""That's one of my stronger points, just getting low in front of the net and finding pucks,"" Ammerman said. ""Luckily it came to my stick and I was able to jab it home.""
Rigsby kept Wisconsin close with 24 saves. Decker also scored for the Wisconsin.
""There were a lot of good signs to take out of this game,"" Johnson said. ""There are also things we need to work on.""
The weekend series was the first of four consecutive against top-ten teams for the Badgers. Wisconsin will host third-ranked Minnesota next Friday and Sunday at the Kohl Center.
