After spending nearly a month playing exclusively on the road, top-ranked Wisconsin (7-0-1 WCHA, 9-0-1 overall) is set to return to LaBahn Arena for a weekend series against Bemidji State (2-5-1, 4-5-1).
“It will be nice to be back at home,” head coach Mark Johnson said at a press conference Monday. “I know the players are excited to play at LaBahn again.”
The Badgers took care of business last weekend, sweeping Minnesota State 3-0 and 3-1. UW used two second-period goals, one each from senior forward Sarah Nurse and freshman forward Sophia Shaver to put away the Mavericks in the first game. Senior goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped all 14 of the shots that came her way to earn her fourth shutout of the season and the 43rd of her career, just one shy of tying the NCAA record.
Minnesota State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in game two. UW tied the game behind senior Mellissa Channell’s first goal of the season before junior forward Baylee Wellhausen lit the lamp twice to help Wisconsin secure the 3-1 victory.
“[I am] certainly pleased with our effort this past weekend in our two afternoon games up at Mankato,” Johnson said. “Eight of 10 games on the road, with the travel and the school, I’m real proud of the way the kids responded and played this past weekend.”
Bemidji State was swept this past weekend by North Dakota in a home-and-home series. The Beavers lost their top three scorers from last season’s 22-11-3 team, but return former All-American goalie Brittni Mowat (22-11-3, 1.68 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage last season). Despite back-to-back 20-win seasons, Bemidji State was picked to finish fifth in the WCHA by the coaches.
BSU has been exceptionally good killing the power play, having allowed only one goal in 27 opportunities. Offensively, sophomore forward Emily Bergland leads the team with nine points (four goals and five assists).
“They’re hard working; they’re very well-coached, they beat Minnesota already this year, and so you know what you’re going to get,” Johnson said. “So it’s your preparation and preparing for this week to get ready to go Saturday afternoon.”
The puck drops Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.