The loudest ovation heard Friday night at the Kohl Center during the UW men’s hockey team’s 3-1 loss was when the women’s hockey score from the afternoon was flashed on the scoreboard. The fans’ appreciation of the team was displayed the next day, as the women’s hockey team hosted its third-largest crowd ever and Wisconsin completed the sweep of the Minnesota State Mavericks.
“[The large amount of fans] just shows how much women’s hockey is growing,” junior forward Jinelle Zaugg said. There’s nothing like playing in front of fans. It gets us really pumped up.”
Senior forward Sara Bauer highlighted the series with eight points, including a goal that catalyzed Wisconsin’s offense 27 seconds into the first game, taking a feed from freshman forward Meghan Duggan to put Wisconsin up 1-0. Bauer now leads the nation in points scored.
“I think any time you can get some offense generated in the first couple of shifts it sets the tone well for the game,” Bauer said.
Duggan shattered Bauer and sophomore forward Angie Keseley’s freshman scoring mark of 33 points with five points of her own in the series. She still stands well behind Meghan Hunter in that department, who had 78 points as a freshman in the 2000-’01 campaign. Duggan was moved up to the first line with Bauer and junior forward Jinelle Zaugg after winter break, and the move has expanded the first line’s scoring capabilities.
“It’s a pleasure to play with her, she’s such an asset out there, and she’s always working hard and she always seems to be in the right place,” Bauer explained.
Two goals by senior defenseman Bobbi-Jo Slusar and scores from Zaugg and freshman forward Jasmine Giles finished the scoring for the Badgers in game one.
In net, goalie Jessie Vetter extended her shutout streak to 236 minutes and 36 seconds and improved to 13-1-2.
Another streak was lengthened in game two, as senior goalie Christine Dufour made 20 saves for the win. She has not lost since Oct. 8, 2005.
The Badgers in the 8-0 win saw two tallies each from Duggan and Bauer, along with goals from senior defenseman Meghan Mikkelson, Zaugg, and senior forwards Heidi Kletzien and Phoebe Monteleone. With the two wins, the Badgers extended their unbeaten streak to 13 games.
Wisconsin improved to 24-1-3 overall and now travels to Minnesota-Duluth, the only team to beat the Badgers this year.
