The Wisconsin Badgers moved into eighth place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with a weekend sweep over the Michigan Tech Huskies.
The Badgers (7-15-4 WCHA, 13-19-4 overall) ruined senior day in Houghton, Mich. on Friday night with a 3-2 victory over the Huskies (6-17-3, 9-21-4). Freshman forward Ryan MacMurchy scored two goals and senior defenseman Brian Fahey got the game-winner with 4:35 remaining in regulation. Wisconsin notched two power play goals in their effort.
Saturday night's game in Green Bay saw a marked difference in offensive production, with UW trouncing Michigan Tech 9-5. Senior forward Erik Jensen and junior forwards Jake Heisler and Rene Bourque each tallied two goals in the victory. Wisconsin took a 5-0 lead only seven minutes into the first period and added to the recent success of their power play unit with another two goals on the man advantage.
With these victories, Wisconsin lies three points ahead of the Huskies with only two weeks before the WCHA playoffs.
The Badger women had a weekend of mixed results against the No. 3 Minnesota Golden Gophers.
The No. 6 Wisconsin women (14-6-4 Western Collegiate Hockey Association, 21-7-5 overall) extended their winning streak to nine games with a 2-1 win over the Gophers on Friday night. Wisconsin received contributions from senior forward Sis Paulsen, in the form of a game-winning goal midway through the third period, and senior goalie Jackie MacMillan (21 saves) en route to their first win this season over the rival Gophers.
Minnesota (19-4-1, 26-5-1) would not be conquered two nights in a row, however, and they shut-out the Badgers Saturday night 2-0. Junior forward LaToye Clarke scored twice for the Gophers, making up for her Olympic teammate freshman forward Natalie Darwitz, who was held to two assists and no goals on the weekend. Wisconsin lost despite outshooting the Gophers 28-17.
Wisconsin finished its regular season on a dismal note, falling to the No. 15 Penn State Nittany Lions 76-55.
The Lions (13-3 Big Ten, 23-7 overall) started the game on a 10-0 run and never looked back, clinching the Big Ten title in front of the fifth largest crowd in PSU women's basketball history. Junior guard Kelly Mazzante, the conference scoring leader, put up 35 points, a figure largely aided by Wisconsin's 27 turnovers.
The Badgers' (5-11, 7-20) lone bright spot was sophomore forward Ebba Gebisa, who shot 100 percent on field goals for 17 points. The women's Big Ten tournament begins this week.
Sophomore center Alex Leavitt will not play for the remainder of the season. He and Head Coach Mike Eaves met Thursday morning to discuss his status.
