581 minutes and 51 seconds of game play ago, the No. 1 ranked Wisconsin Badgers (9-0-0 WCHA, 11-0-0 Overall) allowed a goal. Since then, the women’s hockey team has basically built a brick wall in front of the net, not allowing a single goal in conference play and recording nine consecutive shutouts, an NCAA record.
The most recent shutout in the streak came Friday, as Wisconsin defeated Minnesota Duluth(2-5-0, 4-7-0) 3-0 in the first game of a two-game road series.
The Badgers spread their goals out evenly, scoring one each period. The first goal came late in the first when junior defender Jenny Ryan fired a slapshot that was initially saved by Duluth goalie Maddie Rooney, but the puck bounced right in front of goal and senior Rachael Jones was there to put it away to give Wisconsin the lead.
Ryan was involved again with the second goal, as the NCAA leader in scoring for defenseman earned another assist from her initial slap shot that was redirected by senior Erika Sowchuk into the back of the net.
Wisconsin found themselves on the back foot a little bit in the third, having to deal with multiple power plays for Duluth, but the defense and junior goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens, who broke the goalie record for consecutive shutout minutes, stood firm and denied all scoring opportunities for the Bulldogs.
Head coach Mark Johnson said this extremely high level of play is what is expected now from Desbiens.
“Today was no different that our previous games,” Johnson said. “She made a bunch of quality saves and kept the score 0-0 and gave us a chance to win. It’s been that way for a number of weekends now and that’s what you ask of your goaltender, to give a chance to the players in front and she’s been able to do that.”
The final goal came in the third after Wisconsin fought off the multiple power plays for UMD, and Emily Clark received a pass as she was unmarked right in front of goal and slotted it in to put the Bulldogs in their kennels for the night.
Wisconsin’s streak is currently the talk of women’s hockey, but Johnson continues to focus on the short term.
“We look at it in short increments. The nice thing is we won today,” Johnson said. “It’s been good and hopefully it will continue to get better as we go.”
The Badgers will look to finish off the sweep Saturday at 3 p.m. at the AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn.
UWBadgers.com contributed to this report.
