Wisconsin women’s hockey completed their second sweep of the season at home on Thursday and Friday against Boston University.
After their sweep against the St. Lawrence Saints on the road last weekend, the Badgers returned home with confidence. Wisconsin dominated from the start, cruising to a 7-0 victory on Thursday, scoring five goals in the second period alone.
Friday’s game presented a different challenge. Boston University pushed back throughout the contest forcing the Badgers to dig deep and respond in a more physical matchup. They scored three unanswered goals to win 4-1.
Seven-goal statement
Before the puck dropped for Thursday's game, Wisconsin celebrated its latest championship in front of a home crowd.
The 2026 national champions returned to La Bahn for the raising of the championship banner, adding another piece of history to the rafters. The ceremony featured a highlight video featuring “Mr. Brightside” — the song that became synonymous with the Badgers’ stellar playoff run.
When the puck dropped, the Badgers put the pressure on early, peppering Boston senior goalie Mari Pietersen with shots.
Wisconsin goaltender Ava McNaughton started game one, despite a lower body injury in last Friday's game against St. Lawrence.
The Badgers almost broke through early when a two-on-one developed, but Pietersen swept the puck away, keeping the game scoreless.
After nearly two minutes of sustained time in the Terriers’ zone, junior forward Finley McCarthy gave the Badgers a 1-0 lead in minute 13 — her second goal of the season.
Rosalie Tremblay made a nice move around the defender to feed McCarthy, who was able to rip it top shelf. Hannah Halverson had the secondary assist.
Wisconsin continued to generate chances as the period went on. Cassie Hall created space with a nifty toe-drag around the defender, but Pietersen turned her away. The Badgers offense was only getting started.
Wisconsin erupted for five goals in the second period, turning a one-goal advantage into a commanding 6-0 lead.
Just 1:31 into the second period, junior forward Maggie Scannell extended the Badgers’ lead. She carried the puck deep into the offensive zone and fired a shot, forcing Pietersen to make a pad save.
Defenseman Emma Cerruti’s aggressive forecheck allowed her to get the puck to Nela Lopušanová. With two Terriers on Lopušanová, Scannell was left alone in the slot. Lopušanová found her, and Scannell buried a one-timer.
Four minutes later, Lopušanová scored one of her own. After corralling the puck between her legs, Lopušanová slipped the puck by the goalie for her first goal as a Badger, with Scannell picking up an assist.
Wisconsin struck again less than a minute later.
This time senior defenseman Ava Murphy extended the lead, making it 4-0 Badgers. Tremblay picked off a pass in the defensive-zone and found McCarthy. McCarthy sent a backhanded pass to Murphy who ripped a short-side shot top corner, for her first goal of the season.
The fifth goal of the night was scored by senior forward Hall — her third of the season. Kelly Gorbatenko delivered a stretch pass to Hall, who flew down the left wing, beat her defender and worked the puck forehand-backhand-forehand before tucking the puck in the five-hole.
In the final goal of the period, senior defensemen Laney Potter started the play with a stretch pass to Halverson. Halverson then found Tremblay in the slot, who wristed a shot to cap Wisconsin’s five-goal outburst.
After Tremblay’s goal, Boston sophomore goaltender Sydney Fogu went in for Pietersen with 6:25 remaining in the second period. McNaughton stood tall to blank the Terriers, making a sliding save with just 2:55 left.
The third period was much quieter, but McNaughton remained sharp.
Wisconsin opened the period on the penalty kill, and successfully killed it off. Later, at 9:35, McNaughton made another sliding save to keep the Terriers scoreless. The stop sparked a scrum in front of the net, resulting in matching penalties.
K. Gorbatenko had a point blank chance in front of the net, but Fogu came up big. Her sister, Rachel Gorbatenko nearly extended the lead moments later when she ripped one off the far post.
Wisconsin finally got one by Fogu to seal the win over the Terriers. Scannell sent a cross-seam pass to Lopušanová, who wristed it high for her second goal of the night.
The Badgers earned one final power play opportunity with 25 seconds left, but there was not enough time to generate a scoring chance.
McNaughton closed out the night with a shutout as the Badgers cruised to a 7-0 victory. This marks her 22nd career shutout.
The performance put the Badgers’ offensive depth on full display, while McNaughton made a strong start coming off of her injury.
Badgers battle back
Unlike Thursday’s offensive showcase, Friday's game started out much more level.
McNaughton received the start again for the Badgers, while Fogu got the nod for Boston University after taking over in goal on Thursday.
The Badgers were slower coming into the first period, but Boston gave them lots of opportunities. A couple of sloppy plays in their own zone created quality chances for the Badgers, but they couldn’t convert.
In minute five of the first period, McCarthy was called for slashing and the Badgers returned to the penalty kill. The Terriers generated one dangerous backdoor chance but junior defensemen Emma Venusio blocked it and the Badgers were able to kill off the penalty.
Wisconsin found themselves shorthanded again later in the period, this time facing a 5-minute major penalty for boarding.
The Badgers nearly survived the kill, but Lo LaChapelle finally broke through for the Terriers. From a sharp angle, she notched the puck right above McNaughton’s shoulder to give Boston their first goal of the series.
In minute 9 of the second period, the Badgers were able to tie up the game with a power play goal by Hall — her fourth of the season. Scannell found Hall alone in front and Hall made no mistake to pull the Badgers even.
The remainder of the period settled into a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading quality chances. Entering the third period tied, neither team could afford to make a mistake.
Just two minutes into the third, Fogu denied Tremblay on a point-blank chance and came up with another big stop when McCarthy tried to push the puck in across the goal line.
Hall, who has been a key player in this series, was the one to get the Badgers ahead. She tipped a shot over Fogu’s pads to make it 2-1, while Scannell and Murphy picked up the assists on the go-ahead goal.
Wisconsin continued to press and Lopušanová scored the insurance goal 13:15 into the period. After finding the puck from a rebound, Lopušanová scooped the puck in to make it 3-1 Badgers. Scannell and Šapovalivovà earned the assists on the goal.
With 4:19 left to play, Boston pulled Fogu to gain an extra skater. Just seven seconds later the Badgers would extend their lead with an empty net goal by Potter, her first of the season.
Potter’s goal solidified the Badgers win 4-1 and put the game out of reach for the Terriers.
Wisconsin’s back-to-back victories showcased more than their offensive talents. After overwhelming Boston University in Thursday’s 7-0 shutout, the Badgers faced a more physical challenge on Friday.
Head coach Mark Johnson spoke to the media after the game, addressing his team's performance.
“[We] found a way to get a goal,” Johnson said. “I thought the third period was probably one of our better ones of the weekend, maybe the second period last night.”
Hall gave her perspective on Friday’s game.
“In between the second and third period, we kind of settled down, played as a team. Not everyone can be the hero,” Hall said. “Finally, patience, we were able to put three in.”
The Badgers will need to do the same next series when they travel to Columbus, to face Ohio State University in a rematch of last year's national championship final.
History between the Buckeyes and the Badgers runs deep. The Badgers and Buckeyes have faced off in the national championship for the last four years, with the Badgers winning three.
The Buckeyes opened their season on the road when they faced Penn State University, winning game one in overtime 2-1 and game two in regulation 2-1. The Buckeyes’ series against the Badgers will be their first games at home, creating a difficult environment for Wisconsin.
The puck drops at 6 p.m. at OSU Ice Rink in Columbus, Ohio on Oct. 9.
Staff Writer
