The No. 4 Wisconsin women’s hockey team (4-2-0 WCHA, 4-2-0 overall) completed a weekend sweep over conference opponent St. Cloud State (0-3-1, 0-4-2) in a dominating 6-0 win Saturday afternoon at LaBahn Arena.
The Badgers were able to control all aspects of the game, outshooting the Huskies 48-17 in the game as well as converting on two out of their three power plays and adding a short-handed goal.
UW gave starting goaltender Alex Rigsby the afternoon off, and put in freshman Ann-Renée Desbiens for her first start of her collegiate career. The Quebec native did not disappoint, stopping all 17 shots that came her way, earning herself the first shutout of her Badger stint, and Wisconsin’s second shutout of the season.
“I just wanted to play my game and show the coaches that they could trust me. The defense played great out there for me too, blocking shots and not allowing a lot of pressure in our zone.” Desbiens said.
The first period featured some great defense from UW, only allowing four shots on goal, as the Badgers were able to plug up the neutral zone, not allowing St. Cloud State to enter the offensive zone easily.
Wisconsin earned their first power play chance of the game as St. Cloud State players Michelle Burke and Amanda Arbogast both earned two-minute penalties for roughing along with UW’s senior forward Madison Packer earning herself a roughing penalty as well, 4:21 into the first period.
The Badgers had struggled on the power play coming into this game, only converting on three out of their 21 power plays (14.3 %) this season. However, the power play would not be an issue in this game as UW converted on their first of two power play goals just 11 seconds into the power play. Sophomore defensemen Courtney Burke rifled a shot from the point as it deflected off of a diving Huskie defender and beat the goalie over her left shoulder.
St. Cloud State goalie Katie Fitzgerald was able to keep the Badger lead to 1-0 by the end of the first period as she came up with some spectacular saves.
The second period did not bode well for the Huskies, as the Badgers were able to add three goals to their total, including a shorthanded goal that sealed any chance of a comeback from St. Cloud State.
The Badgers second goal came on the power play one minute and 42 seconds into the period as Huskie defensemen Michelle Burke took her second penalty of the game 29 seconds prior to the goal.
Junior forward Karley Sylvester was able to convert on an unassisted goal as she shot the puck from between the right circle and the goal line, getting the puck just inside the left post.
The Badgers were able to extend their lead to 3-0 just one minute and 45 seconds later on a shorthanded goal from assistant captain junior forward Blayre Turnbull, with the assists from Karley Sylvester and Courtney Burke. Turnbull and Sylvester were able to convert a 2-on-1 as Turnbull beat the St. Cloud goalie over her right shoulder.
“Our special teams played very well tonight.” Turnbull said. “We have been trying to improve on our power play, and getting two out of three tonight as well as a shorthanded goal was good to see.”
Wisconsin was able to add a fourth goal in the period with 12 minutes and 50 seconds remaining as leading goal scorer Brittany Ammerman scored her fifth goal of the year, beating the Huskie goalie to her right on a 2-on-1 opportunity.
The Badgers continued their scoring ways in the third period as Blayre Turnbull scored her second goal of the game, jamming in a rebound off of a Ammerman shot 13 minutes into the third period.
UW got their sixth and final goal of the game as freshman Sarah Nurse fired a quick shot from the slot, directly after a faceoff, which beat the St. Cloud State goalie.
The women’s hockey team will return to LaBahn arena on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. as they take on Lindenwood (0-0-0 CHA, 0-6-1).
