Wisconsin women’s hockey picked up two shutout wins this weekend, defeating the Maine Black Bears 5-0 on Friday and Saturday. Last year’s national championship team was in attendance Friday to raise the 2024-25 championship banner into the rafters.
“What we did last year is incredible, and I think it definitely needed some recognition,” Senior forward Laila Edwards said after the game. “It's so cool raising the banner. A lot of alumni came back and you just got to feel what that old team felt like again, but as soon as that puck dropped, we flipped the switch.”
The banner goes up, and so do the goals
Wisconsin dominated possession early in the game, but Maine goaltender Kiia Lahtinen proved to be a brick wall in the first period, keeping the game scoreless despite 18 shots on goal from Wisconsin.
Wisconsin lost a golden opportunity to score when, after being slashed heading alone toward the net, junior forward Kelly Gorbatenko was confusingly awarded with a power play rather than a penalty shot.
The power play led to great chances, but the Badgers still couldn’t score. Wisconsin continued to generate dangerous chances until Edwards broke the scoreless tie with a rocket from the top of the right circle five minutes into the second period.
Wisconsin killed off another penalty a few minutes later, before junior forward Cassie Hall blocked a shot on one end and scored on the other, giving Wisconsin a two goal lead.
A cross-checking minor from Maine’s Paige Fong threatened to give Wisconsin even more momentum, but the Maine penalty kill performed much better than it had earlier in the game, energizing the visiting Black Bears.
During the latter half of the second period, Maine played an aggressive game, keeping Wisconsin on their heels. But, once the third period hit, it was all Wisconsin.
Less than 20 seconds into the final frame, senior forward Lacey Eden found freshman forward Adéla Šapovalivová alone near the net, and the Czech native slid the puck under Lahtinen’s legs to give Wisconsin a three goal lead.
Senior defender Vivian Jungels and Edwards also scored in the third period to bring the score to 5-0. Edwards, who suited up as a defender in the series, won the WCHA Defender of the Week award for her efforts helping out on the blue line.
Junior goaltender Ava McNaughton stopped every single one of the 25 shots she faced en route to her second consecutive shutout.
In the second game of the series, Wisconsin gave fans a taste of déjà vu and beat Maine 5-0 again.
Saturday’s game honored former captain Britta Curl-Salemme, who dropped the game's first puck with her sister, Brenna Curl, a defensive player for Maine.
The Badgers started with the puck and were able to control the game for a majority of the first half of the period. For about a minute straight, Wisconsin was making themselves at home in Maine's territory with five shots on goal.
Almost exactly half way through the first period, defender Caroline Harvey scored her first goal of the season to put the Badgers on the board.
After a back-and-forth next seven minutes, Eden broke away on a one-on-one before being taken down by Black Bear defender Jaidyn Britt, resulting in a power play. However, Wisconsin was unable to convert before Ava Murphy received a penalty, resulting in even play again.
The second period started off with a penalty from forward Maggie Scannell, but Wisconsin got their second goal of the game just three minutes later, courtesy of Gorbatenko. This gave the Badgers the momentum they needed, as Laney Potter went on to score a goal from far back left that just pierced the net, giving no time for goalie Kiia Lahtinen to respond.
Four minutes later, forward Kirsten Simms was able to find the back of the net.
Most of the second period stayed calm with good, clean hockey. McNaughton saw a lot more action toward the end of the period, with Maine having nine shots on goal, none of which passed her.
The last period of the game began with another powerplay, but this time for Wisconsin. The Badgers spent the majority of the period playing offense, while Maine’s defense became a lot more aggressive.
However, that wasn’t enough for Maine, as halfway through the period Potter sent another one into the back of the net for her second goal of the game.
This goal would lead Coach Mark Johnson to sub in goalie Rhyah Stewart for the remainder of the game. Stewart's entrance was followed by a Maine power play that led to five straight shots on goal, none of which found the back of the net.
