The No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers (6-0-0-0 WCHA, 12-0-0 overall) continued their undefeated season this weekend against archrival Minnesota Golden Gophers ( 4-3-1-0 ,5-4-1) in the Twin Cities, extending their record on the year to 12-0-0. In two tight games, the Badgers bested the No. 6 Golden Gophers 3-2 and 2-1, with the second needing overtime for a decision. It was the first time that Wisconsin has swept Minnesota in an away series since 2007.
The win on Friday was the Badgers’ first against a ranked opponent this season. Minnesota native and freshman forward Presley Norby scored the go ahead goal to go along with an assist on the night.
Junior forward Sophia Shaver, also from Minnesota, scored the first goal of the night and her fourth of the season 30 seconds into the first period. However, the strong start by the Badgers was countered quickly by Minnesota’s Lindsay Agnew, who scored just three minutes later.
Senior forward Baylee Wellhausen scored her first of the season halfway through the first period, extending Wisconsin’s lead to 2-1. The Golden Gophers would go on to tie the game in the third before Norby scored her fourth of the season to help UW take the first game of the series, 3-2.
Goaltender Kristen Campbell had 25 saves on 27 shots, making a couple of big stops, including one on Minnesota’s Kippen Keller who tried to go glove side on a breakaway.
While the team came away with a victory, Coach Mark Johnson told uwbadgers.com that “it was a B minus game.”
“Hopefully tomorrow we’ll come back,” Johnson said after UW’s victory Saturday afternoon. “We’ll get some video and we’ll understand that everybody will bring their A game against us.”
Johnson had to be happy with the team’s efforts the following night. Following a goalless first period, sophomore forward Alexis Mauermann scored her third of the season to put Wisconsin up 1-0.
Minnesota scored shortly after to tie the game and, following a scoreless third, the two teams had to head to overtime.
A little over a minute and half into overtime, Baylee Wellhausen scored her second of the weekend (and the season) to seal the win for the Badgers. The senior captain described the goal as a “pretty exciting moment” to uwbadgers.com, adding that the wins over Minnesota were “exhilarating” and that the team “put forth 110 percent effort out there. We did all the little things right ... Winning on Gopher soil is pretty awesome.”
Campbell had 16 saves on 17 shots and currently holds a .946 save percentage to go along with a 1.00 goals against average.
UW looks to continue its hot start against Ohio State next weekend in what is sure to be an exciting series. The Buckeyes, ranked number four in the nation, will present a tough test to the highflying Badgers in only their second series against a ranked opponent this season.
