One night after losing to No. 5 Minnesota-Duluth on a 5-on-3 in the final minutes, Wisconsin could not take advantage of power play situations of its own-a five-minute major and a 5-on-3 in the second period. Those squanders, and the Bulldogs’ success in such situations, are a big part of why the No. 4 Badgers went home from Duluth empty-handed after a 2-1 defeat.
Goals by Rachel Drazan and Noemie Marin were all UMD (7-0-1, 7-0-1 WCHA) would need for victory over the Badgers (7-3, 5-3) as sophomore goalie Riita Schaublin made 33 saves. Cyndy Kenyon, the Northeastern transfer, scored a late short-handed goal to make the score close, but it was not enough.
The Bulldogs dominated the first period as Drazan scored on UMD’s first shot just 1:54 into the period. The Badgers were fortunate that score held until the intermission, as UMD earned a 5-on-3 for the second straight period of the series, but could not cash in.
After the scoreless second period, Marin scored on the power play just 35 seconds into the period. Kenyon’s goal did not come until there was less than three minutes remaining.
Wisconsin used its timeout with 46 second left on the clock and brought Horras to the bench. A furious 23 seconds ensued and a rattled UMD used its timeout. Despite a number of good chances the Badgers could not extend the game.
For the first time this season head coach Mark Johnson entrusted the Badger net to the same goalie two nights in a row. Meghan Horras allowed two goals and nabbed 17 saves on the night.
Both teams will now take a break due to the international Four Nations Cup tournament. Two Badgers will be competing, but against each other. Seniors Molly Engstrom and Carla MacLeod will be representing their countries, USA and Canada, respectively. MacLeod and Engstrom will faceoff Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in Burlington, Vt. and potentially again in either the bronze- or gold-medal contests on Sunday in Lake Placid, N.Y. Caroline Ouellete (Canada), Nora Tallus (Finland) and Anna-Kaisa Piiroinen (Finkand) will represent UMD.
