Badgers Win 19th Straight, 3-1
October 21, 2006 | Women's Hockey
First-year skater Meghan Duggan notched two goals for the top-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey team Saturday afternoon en route to a 3-1 victory over No. 4/6 Minnesota at the Kohl Center. The Badgers move to 5-0-0 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and 7-0-0 overall, also improving to a nation's-best 19 game winning streak. The Gophers dropped to 2-1-0 in the conference and 3-2-0 overall.
Following a scoreless opening period, Wisconsin struck first just 3:23 into the second with an extra-attacker on ice. Defender Emily Morris' (Massena, N.Y.) shot from in front of the blue line was tipped in my Meghan Duggan (Danvers, Mass.) near the crease. Sophomore Erika Lawler (Fitchburg, Mass.) was credited on the play, her fifth of the season.
Less than two minutes later, the Badgers took a 2-0 lead. On the power play, Jinelle Zaugg (Eagle River, Wis.) created a turnover on the left boards, setting the UW up for a two-on-one down low. A pass to Sara Bauer (St. Catharines, Ontario) in the slot led Gopher goalie Brittony Chartier to commit to the right side, anticipating a shot. Bauer then passed across to Zaugg near the left side of the net, who tipped the puck in for her ninth goal of the season.
With 5:41 remaining in the period, Minnesota responded on a power play opportunity. From down in the right corner, Whitney Graft spotted Erika McKenzie coming off the bench. McKenzie caught the pass at the top of the right circle and off a wrist shot notched the team's first and only goal of the game.
The Badgers added cushioning to their lead mid-way through the final period, off a breakaway goal by Duggan. It was her fifth of the season. Meaghan Mikkelson (St. Albert, Alberta) and Lawler also assisted on the goal.
The cardinal and white out shot the Gophers 36 to 14 and kept their opponent to no more than five shots per period. In goal for Wisconsin, Jessie Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis.) stopped 13 shots and improved to 4-0-0. On the other end, Chartier totaled 33 saves.
The series between the conference rivals ends on Sunday, Oct. 22 at the Kohl Center. The puck is set to drop at 2 p.m.
