No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth rebounded from Friday’s defeat with a 4-1 win over No. 7 Wisconsin to earn a split of the teams’ two-game series at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.
Like the Badgers did Friday, the Bulldogs jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period.
Maria Rooth put UMD (18-2-2, 12-1-1 WCHA) on top at 1:24 of the opening period with a slapshot from the right faceoff dot, beating Wisconsin goalie Jackie MacMillan to the short side.
The Bulldogs upped their lead at 7:30 when Jenny Potter ended a scramble in front of the UW goal with her 25th goal of the year. UMD’s original shot hit the post after MacMillan got a piece, and a third shot hit off the near post and traveled along the goal line under the goaltender before Potter poked home the puck.
UMD carried most of the first-period action, outshooting the Badgers 17-8 in the process. Wisconsin’s best chance came on a two-minute five-on-three advantage, but the UW failed to convert on the opportunity.
The Badgers (12-5-4, 5-5-4) crept back in the game at 11:54 of the second period when Steph Millar converted the rebound of a Kerry Weiland point shot. Sis Paulsen also got an assist on the five-on-three goal to cut the lead in half.
The Bulldogs regained their two-goal advantage when Rooth scored her second goal of the game, converting her own rebound on the power-play with 1:49 to play in the second period.
Forty seconds later, Rooth set up Michelle McAteer in front after circling behind the goal to make the contest 4-1.
Neither team scored in the third period with the Bulldogs outshooting the Badgers 8-5 in the period. MacMillan made two saves to keep the Badgers close. The senior goaltender used her glove arm to knock away Erika Holst’s open snapshot from the slot at 7:10, then stopped Joanne Eustace on a breakaway at 17:49 after the Badger defensemen collided just outside their own blue line.
MacMillan made 31 saves to fall to 12-5-4 while Bulldog goaltender Patricia Sautter stopped 20 shots to improve to 18-2-2.
The loss snapped the Badgers’ school-record 10-game unbeaten string, as well as MacMillan’s 10-game unbeaten streak.
Wisconsin returns home next weekend for the first time in nearly two months when No. 5 New Hampshire visits the Kohl Center Friday and Saturday. UMD is scheduled for a Saturday-Sunday series at Minnesota State.
