Box Score Oct. 3, 2009
Box Score 
MADISON, Wis . - The freshmen of the Wisconsin women's hockey team proved that age is only a number in the Badgers' 3-0 win over North Dakota Saturday night at the Kohl Center. In just their second game donning cardinal and red, freshmen accounted for all three goals. In her first collegiate start, Becca Ruegsegger stopped 18 shots for the shutout.
"I'm really happy for them," said interim head coach Tracey DeKeyser about the freshmen class. "The nerves are out and we've got a whole series under our belt."
Freshman Brianna Decker found the back of the net with 15:12 left in the first period. From the left side, senior captain Jasmine Giles took a shot that bounced off a defender and found its way to Decker's stick. Decker made it count and buried the puck under the crossbar to tally the Badgers' first goal of the season to secure a 1-0 lead heading into the second period.
The Badgers did not take long to add to their lead, scoring their second goal of the game 2:45 into the second period. This time, fellow freshman Lauren Unser tallied the goal in just her second shift as a Badger. Freshman Stefanie McKeough took a shot from the left side that deflected off junior Maria Evans' left skate. Unser gained control of the puck, sending it past North Dakota goaltender, Jorid Dagfinrud giving Wisconsin the 2-0 advantage.
With 10:01 left in the second period, Decker scored her second goal of her collegiate career. From the defensive end, Giles sent the puck up the boards to Decker who gathered it at the red line. Decker split both defenders and took the puck from her forehand to her backhand to put it past Dagfinrud, sliding into the net.
The Badgers' shutout was preserved late in the third period when, following a scramble, Giles made a skate-save in front of an empty net. Ten of Ruegsegger's 18 saves came in the third period as UND's Dagfinrud finished with 36 saves.
"We knew we had it in us and it just connected," said DeKeyser after the win. "Last night was a wake-up call and a reminder that small details, such as simple line changes, make a difference."
The Badgers outshot the Fighting Sioux 39-19, however Wisconsin went 0-6 on the power play and UND went 0-3 on the man advantage.
Wisconsin continues the 2009-10 season next weekend in their first contest on the road. On Oct. 10 the Badgers head to Corelaine, Minn. for the first game of the series to face Bemidji State at the Hodgins-Berardo Arena at 7 p.m. The series continues on Oct. 11 when both teams travel to Bemidji, Minn. to battle at the John Glas Fieldhouse at 7 p.m.
Allison Metcalf
Wisconsin Athletic Communications
