Rookie Angie Keseley scored the first three goals in a 4-1 game to register the Badgers’ fourth season hat trick and the first win in the WCHA best-of-three playoff series vs. North Dakota.
Keseley put Wisconsin (30-4-1) up early in the game with a low shot to the right side just 2:07 into the game. She scored again with a slick tip-in off a pass from Erika Lawler on the power play.
In the second period, North Dakota (7-26-2) retaliated out-shooting the Badgers 9-4 after putting just one shot on net in the first. Held scoreless on both sides, the period was quickly forgotten when Keseley lit the lamp for the third time at 1:29 shoving the puck through traffic. Seniors Nikki Burish and Grace Hutchins were credited with assists on the play.
UND peppered Wisconsin goalie, Jessie Vetter with shots that moved her out of position at 6:58 in the third. In an attempt to clear the puck from the open net, Keseley’s stick nudged the puck across the line, but the last Sioux skater to touch it, Devon Fingland, was credited with the goal.
After just 50 seconds on the power play, junior Sara Bauer rocked the puck and scored her 21 goal of the season. Meaghan Mikkelson and Bobbi-Jo Slusar had cycled the puck to Bauer and were credited with assists.
In her eighth start, Vetter registered 21 saves and weathered the Sioux out-shooting the Badgers in last two periods. For UND, senior Amber Hasbargen made 24 saves in her 19th season loss.
The teams meet again Saturday at the Kohl Center with the Badgers able to close out the series with a win. However, should UND be victorious, the deciding game will be played Sunday, also at the Kohl Center. The puck will drop at 2:07 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, if necessary.