Eight-ranked Wisconsin played two and half periods of scoreless hockey with No. 7 St. Lawrence before the Saints scored on a two-on-one midway through the third period and went on to a 1-0 victory at the 1932 Olympic Rink on Friday.
The Badgers’ scoring struggles continued despite outshooting their opponents for the second time in the last three games and for the 11th time in 13 games this season. Wisconsin held a 21-13 shot advantage, but was shutout for the third consecutive contest. The Badgers are scoreless over their last 183 minutes, 43 seconds.
Wisconsin (6-5-2 overall, 5-2-1 WCHA) outshot the Saints, 6-5, in the first period as both teams succeeded on a penalty kill. The Badgers killed three power plays in the second period during a seven minute span in dominating fashion, allowing just one shot against and hardly allowing SLU to enter the Badger offensive zone.
St. Lawrence (7-2-0) finally broke through on the scoreboard at 8:17 of the third period. Meghan Maguire passed ahead to Trish Powers up the right side of the neutral zone. A Badgers defender went for the poke check on what was a two-on-two, but fanned and Powers skated in with Chera Marshall. Marshall took the feed, made a move around Wisconsin’s Jackie MacMillan and scored her third of the season.
“One mistake — that cost us,” head coach Trina Bourget. “That was the difference in the game. Right now, we are at a time where we are not making very many mistakes, but the few we are making, people are capitalizing on.”
The Badgers pressed and ended up with an 11-4 shot advantage in the third, but came away empty. Meghan Hunter had the best chance for Wisconsin, receiving a pass to the right of SLU goaltender Rachel Barrie. Hunter’s point-blank wrist shot went off the netminder’s mask.
MacMillan, named the player of the game for the Badgers, made 12 saves, and one key one late in the second period to keep the game scoreless. MacMillan fell to 6-5-1 with the loss. Barrie stopped 21 shots for the shutout and improved to 6-2-0 on the season.
“We played well,” added Bourget. “We have to bounce back. This happens in all hockey seasons. We have to see how we react to it and come back to battle tomorrow. We have to pull together and play together because it does get frustrating.”
