No. 2 Wisconsin will wrap up the first half of its season against Bemidji State this weekend at LaBahn Arena.
The Badgers (8-2-2 WCHA, 12-2-2 overall) enter this weekend’s series against the Beavers (4-5-1, 7-7-2) riding a 12-game unbeaten streak, currently the nation’s longest. During the last dozen games Wisconsin has allowed an average of just 0.9 goals per game while scoring 3.3.
Bemidji State ruined opening night at LaBahn Arena last year by beating the Badgers 1-0, while the two teams fought to a 3-3 tie in the final game of the series. UW would eventually get revenge on the Beavers, winning in the final game of last season against Bemidji State by a score of 3-1.
The Badgers are coming off a two-game series against Minnesota-Duluth in which they escaped with a tie and a win.
With the victory, the Badgers move into sole possession of second place in the WCHA standings, while the Bulldogs remain in fourth. The game marked the end of a six-game road trip in which UW went 4-0-2 and picked up two wins against ranked opponents.
Senior goaltender Alex Rigsby has logged 7,046 minutes and 49 seconds between the pipes in her career as a Badger, breaking the record for most minutes played in school history last weekend against UMD. The record was previously held by Jackie MacMillan, who played 6,999 minutes and 29 seconds during her four-year career at Wisconsin.
The past week has seen two Badgers win WCHA honors: Senior forward Madison Packer earned WCHA Offensive Player of the Week after recording a goal and two assists last weekend, while freshman goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens earned WCHA Newcomer of the Week honors after recording 13 saves in relief for Rigsby, who left Saturday’s game at UMD with an injury.LaBahn