The No.1 Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team hasn’t struggled much this season, but a playoff matchup against Minnesota-Duluth caused some concern.
At the end of January, the Badgers traveled to play a series in Duluth and came away with a pair of close wins. This time wasn’t much different, but the Badgers picked up a 3-1 victory and moved on to the WCHA championship game.
The Badgers got a pick-me-up with the return of sophomore defender Laney Potter, who had been out with injury and hadn’t played a full game since those matchups with UMD.
A close first period
The Badgers put on some early pressure, but WCHA goaltender of the year Eve Gascon stood strong, keeping the explosive Wisconsin offense from getting the hot start they were searching for.
About three minutes into the game, sophomore forward Grace Sadura played iso-ball, making the Wisconsin defense look silly en route to just barely sneaking a puck past sophomore goaltender Ava McNaughton to open the scoring for the Bulldogs.
A cross-ice pass from Potter ricocheted off of sophomore forward Kelly Gorbatenko to even up the game a few minutes later.
UMD was assessed a cross-checking minor at 16:13 in the second, but Wisconsin couldn’t convert on the power play opportunity.
Both Gorbatenko and sophomore forward Cassie Hall peppered Gascon with high-quality shots throughout the first period, but the Canadian goaltender only let in one goal on 16 shots.
The Badger faithful made the trip well to Duluth, with the Big Ten+ broadcast picking up various chants from the Crease Creatures.
Wisconsin takes the lead
Three minutes into the second, the ever-consistent junior defender Vivian Jungels broke up a dangerous 2-on-1 opportunity for Duluth to keep the game tied.
Seven minutes into the period, senior forward Lacey Eden caught Gascon out of position, but was unable to slam home a wrap-around attempt that would’ve put Wisconsin up by one.
At 4:49 remaining in the second, redshirt senior forward Casey O’Brien lost the puck stickhandling, but it found junior defender Caroline Harvey in the high slot, who scored on a one-timer to put Wisconsin ahead, 2-1. O’Brien’s assist marked the WCHA player of the year’s 80th point of the year.
The Badgers ice the game
One minute into the third period, Duluth’s Danielle Burgen set an illegal screen near the Wisconsin net, and the Badgers headed back on the power play.
Wisconsin rarely gives up good opportunities. It’s even rarer for them to give up good shorthanded opportunities, but WCHA freshman of the year, the Bulldogs’ Caitlin Kraemer, had a massive breakaway opportunity that she couldn’t find a way to convert on.
With a smidgen over a minute left, freshman defender Emma Venusio managed to take a sharp-angle shot behind Gascon for her first goal as a Badger.
McNaughton allowed only one goal on 22 shots as the Badgers secured the win and advanced to the championship game.
Harvey, the WCHA Defender of the Year, logged her 131st career point, a Wisconsin record. Harvey wasn’t too interested in the record, saying, “All I'm focused on is bringing that trophy back to Madison.”
