Saturday, March 12, 2016
Wisconsin vs. Mercyhurst

Wisconsin Head Coach Mark Johnson

Opening statement:
"I certainly want to thank our fans for coming out tonight, showing their support and creating a real energetic arena. I know the players love playing in front of them. I'm certainly pleased with our effort tonight and look forward to one more game and one more opportunity. It should be fun. It's always fun to get to the final four. We're looking forward to the challenges that will be presented, as we play Minnesota next Friday."

On if the team knows how good they have it with the home crowds:
"Obviously when we travel and play away games the atmosphere is different. I think they understand it's a special place. We've created a special atmosphere. It seems like each year the rink has been open it has gotten better and better, this year being the best year. Overall, since the second half of the season we've had mostly sellouts. As I walk around town people are talking about coming to the game, they've been to a game, they talk about the experience they've had at the game. It's a tribute to the players who have played so well for the number of years that we've played here at LaBahn. The success that they've had—the community has embraced it."

On team's play tonight:
"We're looking for the perfect game, knowing that we're probably not going to play it. There are times in games—like tonight with the shorthanded goal—when you change momentum. At the beginning of the second period we gave up a couple 2-on-1s and opportunities to score. Fortunately for us, Ann-Renee (Desbiens) made some saves. She made a real nice save when it was 1-0 in the first period—a left-pad save. Overall we did what we needed to do. We created the energy that we needed to create in the first period by getting a couple goals. We got to the finish line in pretty good shape."

On workmanlike attitude that the team has:
"As we've talked about all year the chemistry has been good. I think as you get to this time of the year—the last third of the season—you start to see people pull together. Whether you're close during the course of the year, at the end, the goal of what the team really wants to do becomes clear. Then everybody accepts their role and everybody pulls together. We started with a close-knit team and they've continued to grow together and support one another.
The thing you have to worry about is to not get too excited for a game. I think at the start of the game we might have been that. This morning at practice they (the team) were sky high. Sometimes if you don't manage your energy level you go out there the first couple shifts and you have heavy legs. It's a fun group to work with. It's fun to go to the rink every day because there's energy, there's smiles, there's giggles, there's laughter and a lot of good things from a coaching perspective that gives us the opportunity to do some of the things we've been able to do."
 
Wisconsin Forward Sarah Nurse

On the biggest advantage of playing at home:
"I think during the game you can tell it's never quiet—no matter what's going on in the game the fans are always so loud. I think that's such an intimidating factor when you're playing a team that's not used to that. It's awesome for us here at home."

On the penalty-killing unit:
"From the front, all the way to the back with Ann-Renee (Desbiens) we play as unit. On the penalty kill that's really key for us. We all have a system and we stick to that and I think that's what makes us successful."

On scoring six goals but the Mercyhurst goaltender not making it easy:
"We like to get shots on net. We like to make the goalies earn their saves. I think, yeah, we got six goals but she (Sarah McDonnell) definitely earned quite a few saves out there. All the props to her."

On shorthanded goal:
"She (Sydney McKibbon) kept the puck along the wall and just drew the defender with her. I saw her going to the net—she was on her forehand—and I didn't really think to shoot. We do it in practice all the time. She went and made a great move and scored."
 
Wisconsin Goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens

On tonight's game:
"I think in the second period they (Mercyhurst) got some of their chances but our team did a good job making sure I could see the puck or clean the rebounds."

On how many quality chances Mercyhurst had:
"I was not that busy but I still don't count them (chances). I can't really say, I just take them one at a time."

On being spoiled by the home crowd:
"It's definitely awesome. As soon as they (fans) hear the starting lineup they go crazy and I don't think Mercyhurst was used to that so that was definitely to our advantage. It's nice to know they have your back and whatever you do they get super loud. You know they're there for you."

Mercyhurst Head Coach Michael Sisti

Opening statement:
"Obviously we were excited to be here and to make it back to this tournament for the 11th time in 12 years. Especially after a tough start for us, this team was resilient and we battled through a lot of injuries. Really proud of this season and even today with the crowd as loud as they were we really fought all the way to the final buzzer. Wisconsin is a great team. We were led by our captain and the other seniors. Just really proud of the season that these players and this staff had.

On approach to the game:
"Well their transition game is awesome. Wisconsin is very good defensive team certainly with their goaltending but also with their transition game which was deadly. Especially on the wider rink I thought our players did a real good job of bottling them up and limiting their opportunities but obviously they got loose some times and made us pay. I thought our goaltender played great too and gave us a chance but again, our team did a pretty good job executing our game plan. We certainly wanted to clog up the neutral zone. Sometimes great players get free and make plays and they were able to do that."