Badgers Drop Mavericks, 3-1
November 03, 2006 | Women's Hockey
Sophomore goalie Jessie Vetter made 22 saves to lead the No. 1 Wisconsin women 's hockey team to a 3-1 victory over Minnesota State Friday night at All Seasons Arena.
Angie Keseley (St. Louis Park, Minn.), Kyla Sanders (Parrish, Fla.) and Meaghan Mikkelson (St. Albert, Alberta) all scored as the Badgers (10-0-1 overall, 8-0-1 WCHA) improved their school-record unbeaten streak to 23 games (22-0-1).
On the other end, Britni Kehler stopped 29 shots for the Mavericks, who fell to 3-5-0 overall on the season and 2-5-0 in conference play.
Wisconsin's win, coupled with Minnesota's victory over Minnesota Duluth, pushed the Badgers into first place in the WCHA.
Keseley opened the scoring at the 15:13 mark of the third period when she stole the puck behind the net, skated across the crease and put a backhander between Kehler's pads. The unassisted goal was Keseley's second of the season.
About one minute later, it looked as though senior Sara Bauer (St. Catharines, Ontario) had given the Badgers a 2-0 lead. Bauer skated across the crease, waited for Kehler to commit low and then flipped the puck over her. However, the goal was disallowed because the net was deemed to have come off its moorings.
The Mavericks tied the game at one with 17.1 seconds left in the opening period. Freshman Ashley Young sent a shot on the ice just inside the right post from between the circles that beat Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis.). The power-play tally was the first goal of Young's career.
Sanders put Wisconsin back in front 3:38 into the middle stanza. Sanders snapped a high shot over Kehler from the left circle for her fourth goal of the season. Bauer and senior Bobbi-Jo Slusar (Swift Current, Saskatchewan) earned assists on the power-play goal.
Mikkelson increased UW's lead to 3-1 at the 8:43 mark of the third period. The senior intercepted a clearing attempt and blasted a shot past Kehler. The unassisted goal was her second of the season and the 20th of her career.
Wisconsin finished the game 1-for-4 on the power play while Minnesota State was 1-for-3.
The Badgers and Mavericks conclude their series Saturday at All Seasons Arena. Faceoff is set for 3:07 p.m.
