Some tough defense and some timely scoring by the usual suspects were enough for the Wisconsin women’s hockey team (17-9-2-2 WCHA, 21-9-2 overall) to grab a weekend road sweep over the Bemidji State Beavers (5-22-1, 6-24-2).
The pair of wins this weekend locked the Badgers into the No. 2 seed in the WCHA playoffs, giving them the most favorable road to reach a matchup with top-seeded Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Friday night, Wisconsin gutted out a tough defensive battle with some impressive defensive play to come away with a 2-0 victory. After a scoreless first period, freshmen forward Molly Doner put up her first goal as a collegian off a precision pass by senior defensemen Jordan Brickner.
With Doner working in front of the Bemidji goal, Brickner saw delivered a puck through an opening in the Beaver defense that the freshmen was able to one-hand into the back of the net.
An empty-netter by senior forward Brianna Decker with a second to go in regulation nailed down the win, giving head coach Mark Johnson his 300th career win.
Saturday saw a two-point effort by junior defensemen Kelly Jaminski fuel Wisconsin to a 3-1 win and a road sweep. With 21 seconds to go in the first period, Jaminski rattled home a puck off the post to give UW the early lead.
The Beavers responded in the second period to put up their only goal of the weekend on a two-on-one break that senior forward Emily Erickson was able to capitalize on for the early tie.
Jaminski rallied the Badgers to take the lead only moments later, when a blocked shot by the junior was rebounded by sophomore forward Katy Josephs for an easy goal.
Decker once again sealed the win with a goal in the third, marking her 239th career point to move her second all-time in school history. The sweep was especially fitting because of the 1-0 loss that the Beavers handed the Badgers on their first home-game at La Bahn Arena earlier this season
UW finished the regular season on six game win streak, with their last loss being to Minnesota January 27.
The heavily-favored Badgers have outscored the Huskies 23-4 in their four games this season.
Games one and two of the series are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. both nights, with a third game scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m. if necessary.
