The freshman line of Erika Lawler, Angie Keseley, and Tia Hanson was in on three of four Wisconsin goals as the Badgers completed the sweep of North Dakota with a 4-0 shutout victory.
No. 2 Wisconsin (19-2-1, 14-1-1 WCHA) came out with the same jump as at the finish of Friday night’s game. The freshman line totaled two goals and four assists while setting the tone on the scoreboard early.
“Last night in the third period they played very well and they carried it over tonight for three periods,” Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson said of the freshman line.
“I think our line really picked it up today, we moved our feet a little more and were working better together,” Keseley said.
Lawler and high-scoring defenseman Bobbi-Jo Slusar both had goals in the first
period to stake Wisconsin to a 2-0 lead. Slusar also had an assist on Lawler’s
power-play goal and eventual game winner.
The Fighting Sioux (5-15-2, 1-13-2 WCHA) had seven power-play chances but were held off the score sheet by the Badgers’ superior defensive effort and the solid goaltending of junior Christine Dufour, who made 15 saves in the win.
“Our defensive corps has come a long way,” Slusar said. “Killing penalties
is one of our strong points and we were able to play aggressive on them tonight.”
“They put a lot of pressure on us, on the penalty kill they were right on us immediately no matter where the puck was,” said UND coach Shantel Rivard.
UND’s best scoring chance came shorthanded in the second, when senior Anne Girtz had a breakaway, deked stick side and shot only to have Dufour dive across and make a dazzling stick save. That sent a rebound right to UND freshman Melissa Jaques, who was also robbed by Dufour.
“If they score in that situation they get some energy out of it and it might
have been a different game,” Johnson said.
Fighting Sioux senior goalie Amber Hasbargen sparkled in making 13 saves during the second frame while not allowing a goal. She stopped two quality chances in the latter stages of the period. Hasbargen finished the game with 28 saves.
Keseley scored Wisconsin’s third goal early in the third period, and Badger sophomore forward Jinelle Zaugg closed out the scoring late in the third with her 18th goal of the season.
Wisconsin travels home to host Ohio State next weekend, while North Dakota
will host St Cloud State.
