The Wisconsin women’s ice hockey team (3-1-0) faced Missouri’s Lindenwood Lions (0-4-0) Thursday and Friday night at LaBahn Arena, ending in two shutout wins for the Badgers.
The games proved to be no tough task for the Badgers – who won 6-0 Thursday night and dominated Friday night, winning 10-0. Both goaltenders Cami Kronish, who played Thursday, and Jane Gervais, who played Friday, earned their first career shutouts.
The Badgers started out strong Thursday – with Lacey Eden scoring the first goal of the night, three minutes into the first period off a short pass from Maddi Wheeler. Wisconsin remained aggressive on the offensive end, keeping Lindenwood goaltender Natalie Ferenc busy. By the end of the first, the shots on goal favored the Badgers 17-3.
With the second period underway, the Badgers went on the first power play of the night. The Badgers failed to capitalize as multiple shots were blocked. However, they went on two more power plays, making it five-on-three with about 14 minutes left in the period.
As the last power play expired, Natalie Buchbinder passed the puck down to Wheeler who made a move around the goalie to flip the puck in for the Badgers second goal. Sophie Shirley scored two minutes later, helped by senior captain Britta Curl and Jesse Compher, putting the Badgers up by three.
It became heated with the Badgers and frustrated Lions, resulting in roughing penalties for both teams. The Badgers then played four-on-four hockey, ending the second period with a score of 3-0 and shots on goal favoring Wisconsin 50-3.
The Badgers had an exciting third period, scoring four more goals against the Lions. Their first goal of the period, scored by Wheeler for her second of the night, was just 35 seconds into the third period.
Shortly after, Shirley and Eden scored their second goals of the night, making it 6-0 Badgers. Lindenwood was called for three penalties in the third period, as the Badgers ended the game with a dominating offensive attack, winning 6-0. Nearly the entire game was spent in the Lions’ zone, resulting in the final shots on goal being 72-3 for the Badgers.
For the second matchup against the Lindenwood Lions, the Badgers had an outstanding ten goals come from nine players. Casey O’Brien began the scoring run a minute into the first period, with help from Lacey Eden.
Her goal was followed by a power play goal scored by senior captain Britta Curl. Shirley had a skillful assist as she skated around the Lions’ goal to pass the puck off to Jesse Compher, who scored her first home goal of the season – putting the Badgers up by three in the first period.
The second period started off with a goal from Eden. She then assisted freshman Laila Edwards, who scored an impressive shot, her first home goal.
Nicole LaMantia scored her first of the season on a power play, with a hard shot over the shoulder of the goalie. To end the second period, Shirley scored the seventh goal, capping off a commanding four-goal period for the Badgers.
The Badgers showed no mercy, starting the third period off with a successful penalty kill and a goal from freshman Kirsten Simms. Wheeler and Compher went on to score the next two goals for the Badgers, giving them the final score of 10-0.
The series was a crushing defeat for the Lindenwood Lions as players Eden, Harvey, LaMantia, O’Brien, Shirley and Wheeler all played a key role in the Badgers win.
On Friday and Saturday, the Badgers will set their sights on the St. Thomas Tommies for games at LaBahn Arena.
