For the third time this season, the Wisconsin women's hockey team split a weekend series with a WCHA opponent, losing the first game of a series and coming back to win the second. This time, the Badgers fell against Ohio State 4-3 Friday and returned the favor Saturday with a 5-3 victory.
Wisconsin lost Friday despite a spirited third-period rally. After the Buckeyes took a commanding 3-0 lead, the Badgers stormed back, scoring three goals in seven minutes to tie the game 3-3. But Ohio State freshman forward Hokey Langan capitalized off a Badger turnover and scored the go-ahead goal with five minutes left to give the Buckeyes the victory.
Freshman defender Saige Pacholok, who made her first career start Friday night, was one of the three Badgers who scored during the rally.
""We really do need to start getting the lead early so we can stay in the lead instead of coming back,"" Pacholok said.
Despite the loss, Wisconsin head coach Tracey DeKeyser stayed optimistic about the team's comeback.
""What it demonstrated to themselves and to us was that they have the ability to come back after a three-goal deficit,"" DeKeyser said. ""So it's there, it's just a matter of being consistent for 60 minutes.""
Early in the third period of game one, Wisconsin junior forward Kelly Nash went down with an injury and was scratched for game two. DeKeyser said Nash did not play the second game as a precautionary measure and would be ready for the Badgers' next series against No. 2 Minnesota.
Wisconsin struck first in game two, as junior defender Geena Prough scored to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead.
Both teams provided the offensive fireworks in the second, combining for five goals. When Ohio State took a 2-1 lead, the Badgers once again responded with three goals of their own, including a penalty shot from sophomore forward Brooke Ammerman.
""That was a class-A example of what she can do and will continue to do for the season for us,"" DeKeyser said of Ammerman's goal.
Ammerman remained humble about scoring in a high-pressure situation.
""That was good timing, and a little bit of luck,"" Ammerman said.
Wisconsin's defense stood up to the challenge Saturday night. With a 4-3 lead late in the third period, the Badgers killed off a 5-on-3 Ohio State power play. When the penalties expired, junior forward Mallory Deluce burst out of the penalty box and sealed the victory with a goal.
DeKeyser attributed the Badgers' defensive stand to a quartet of forwards in freshmen Breann Frykas and Lauren Unser, junior Maria Evans and senior Emily Kranz.
""They did a great job,"" she said. ""They just played their role, and they really helped us secure this victory.""
Wisconsin freshman goalie Becca Ruegsegger, who started both games over senior goalie Alannah McCready, allowed seven goals on 47 shots for the series.
Prough and Deluce led Wisconsin in scoring for the series, with two goals each. Meanwhile, Langan and sophomore forward Laura McIntosh led the Buckeyes for the series with two goals apiece.
Wisconsin now prepares to host the Golden Gophers on Halloween weekend, with games Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.
