Wisconsin overcame a 2-0 first period deficit en route to a 4-2 win over Bemidji State on Friday at Capitol Ice Arena. Nicole Uliasz completed the comeback with the game-winning goal early in the third period.
Bemidji State (9-22-1, 6-16-1 WCHA) came out flying, outshooting Wisconsin, 18-12, in the first period. Caesare Stimson put the Beavers on the board at 13:22 of the first period shortly after a face off in the Wisconsin zone. Amber Fryklund’s initial shot was stopped by Wisconsin goalie Jen Neary, but Stimson got to the rebound before anyone else.
Fryklund put the Beavers up two at 16:43 on the power play from Lisa Peters and Alicia Kinsman. It was Fryklund’s 26th goal of the year.
Steph Millar finally put the Badgers (18-8-5, 12-6-5) in the scoring column at 18:02 of the period. Kendra Antony passed to Millar skating down the right side of the ice. Millar cut back and hit the short-side corner while falling to the ice for her eighth goal of the year. Kerry Weiland had the first of her three assists in the game on the play.
“Bemidji is a much improved team,” said Wisconsin coach Trina Bourget. “The scary part is we have to play them three times in a row. They are going to be ready. Their team has character and pride. Millar’s goal, that lifted us up.”
Sis Paulsen evened the score at 7:01 of the second with a power-play tally. Paulsen received a point-to-point pass from Weiland before wristing a shot past BSU goaltender Bre Dedrickson.
At 1:48 of the third period, Uliasz gave Wisconsin its first lead of the contest with her fifth goal of the season. Millar pushed the puck into the corner to Meghan Hunter who skated in behind the goal line and found a cutting Uliasz open in the slot.
“Meghan Hunter and Millar set Nicole up pretty nicely,” said Bourget. “She’s got a great shot and had some opportunities to use it today.”
Stephanie Boeckmann sealed the win at 14:38 when Weiland found her skating through the neutral zone. Boeckmann beat a BSU defenseman with an outside-inside move before firing past Dedrickson for her third goal of the season.
The Badgers finished the game with a 46-28 advantage in shots after giving up 18 in the first period. Wisconsin held the Beavers to just three shots in the second period.
Neary made 26 saves and improved to 3-1-0 with the win. Dedrickson fell to 7-14-0 despite her 42-save effort.
“We are a better team and we have to show it on the ice,” Bourget said. “That is where it matters. We have to play together as a team and tighten up defensively.”
