No. 2 Wisconsin (8-2-2 WCHA, 12-2-2 overall) kept their unbeaten streak alive over the weekend, picking up a tie and a win in a road series against Minnesota-Duluth (5-5-3, 7-5-3).
The first game of the series took place Friday night, with the two teams playing to a 2-2 tie.
As has been the case in recent weeks, UW had to avoid an upset by coming from behind. This time, the Badgers headed into the third frame down a goal, but that deficit wouldn’t last for long.
Just one minute into the period, senior forward Madison Packer found the back of the net to even the score at two goals apiece.
Neither team was able to score again for the rest of the third period or overtime, sending the game to a shootout to decide who gets an extra point in the standings.
In the shootout, the only goal came courtesy of the Bulldogs, giving Duluth an additional point in the WCHA standings.
While Wisconsin didn’t pick up the win in the game, it did feature senior goaltender Alex Rigsby reaching another milestone in her decorated career as a Badger.
Rigsby passed Jackie MacMillan on the list for most minutes played in school history, and also became the first goalie in UW history to play 7,000 minutes in the net.
Saturday’s contest also came down to the third period, with the Badgers again scoring in the final frame.
This time, it was junior forward Karley Sylvester who scored for UW, with her goal coming just over two minutes into the third period.
Sylvester’s goal would end up being the only one of the night for either team, as the Badgers held on for a 1-0 win.
The victory felt somewhat bittersweet for the team, as Rigsby was forced to leave the game midway through the second period due to an undisclosed injury.
Freshman goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens took over for Rigsby and preserved the shutout for Wisconsin, the team’s fifth on the season.
The series in Duluth was the final one of a six-game road trip for the Badgers, who went 4-0-2 over that span.
UW, whose 12-game unbeaten streak is the best in the nation, will return home to host Bemidji St. next weekend at LaBahn Arena.
