Badgers close out 2009 against Minnesota State
December 09, 2009 | Women's Hockey
Dec. 9, 2009
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin women's hockey team will close out the first half of its season on the road against Minnesota State. The Badgers enter the league series in third place, three points behind Minnesota Duluth and five points back from the leader, Minnesota. The Badgers look to move up in the standings and improve on its four-game unbeaten streak, its longest of the season.
The series against the Mavericks will be the Badgers final competition until Jan. 5, when Team USA visits the Kohl Center for an exhibition game.
At a glance
No. 6/7 Wisconsin (10-5-3, 7-4-1 WCHA) | Minnesota State (4-6-4, 2-6-4 WCHA) | Mankato, Minn. | All Seasons Arena | Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. (Live Stats) (Stream) | Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. (Live Stats) (Stream)
About the series
The Badgers have never dropped a game to Minnesota State in 39 meetings; Wisconsin is 37-0-2 all-time with the Mavericks, with one of its two ties coming in its last meeting on February 14, 2009. The Badgers tied the Mavericks 3-3 at All Season Arena, however, UW pulled out the 2-1 shootout win to earn an extra point in league standings.
UW has shut out MSU 13 times while scoring more than three goals in each outing. In all contests, Wisconsin has scored at least three goals and never allowed more than three goals.
Last time out
Wisconsin tallied a win and a tie, picking up three points against Minnesota Duluth after dropping the shootout decision.
Wisconsin stifled UMD's offense holding the Bulldogs to only 14 shots as the Badgers pulled out a 3-1 victory in the series opener. UW outshot UMD 78-38 over the weekend, while also picking up two power-play goals. In Friday's win, Saige Pacholok started the scoring on the man-advantage. Brooke Ammerman scored the go-ahead goal before Carolyne Prevost secured the win with an empty net goal.
In the finale the Bulldogs went up 1-0 in the first period before UW countered with back-to-back goals in the second period from Brianna Decker and Geena Prough. UMD tallied the equalizer in the third frame and after a scoreless five-minute overtime period, the Bulldogs pulled out a 2-0 shootout win.
Playing in their 14th overtime game against one another, and eighth in the past four seasons, the Badgers dropped their third shootout of the season. The shootout loss allowed the Bulldogs to pick up an extra point in conference standings, marking the only shootout that counted for points this season.
Badger notes
Wisconsin picked up only its third victory in a series opener with the 3-1 win over Minnesota Duluth. The Badgers have dropped four and tied two in the first game to come back and win the second game of the series. Wisconsin's only series sweep was against the second-ranked Minnesota Gophers who sit atop the WCHA.
The Badgers have netted 50 goals by 14 different Badgers. Wisconsin has out-shot opponents in every game but one this season totaling 643 shots compared to 429.
Already 18 Badger skaters have contributed a point this season. Brooke Ammerman is the team's leading scorer with 20 points (12g, 8a) followed by Mallory Deluce (8g, 7a).
The Badgers broke a four-game scoreless streak while on the power play after knocking in two power-play goals over the weekend. UW is 7-for-82 on the man advantage, after coming up 2-for-8 in the last two outings. Wisconsin has had 134 power play shot attempts for a .052 shot percent.
Wisconsin ranks 12th in the nation on the penalty kill with an 88.8 percent success rate allowing only 10 goals on 89 opportunities. The Badgers have netted two short-handed goals this season.
Wisconsin relies on the strength of two goaltenders this season. Freshman Becca Ruegsegger had a shutout in her first collegiate start and has recorded a 5-4-3 record this season. Ruegsegger has 281 saves and a .918 save percentage with a 2.05 goals-against average. Senior Alannah McCready (5-1-0) holds a .926 save percentage and a 1.48 goals-against average tallying 113 saves. McCready ranks seventh overall in goals-against average.
Ammerman ranks 15th in the nation in scoring this season, she is tied for third for goals, two goals behind the nation's leader, Bailey Bram of Mercyhurst. Ammerman remains a balanced forward with 39 career goals and 35 career assists in only her second season.
Wisconsin's defense has played aggressively helping the scoring output for UW notching seven goals this season. Stefanie McKeough and Saige Pacholok are a positive asset to the Badger defense, leading the defenseman in scoring with eight points apiece. The Badger freshmen lead the team in plus/minus with a plus-14 and a plus-15 rating, respectively.
McKeough and Pacholok are tied for 30th in the nation for points per game for a defenseman while Geena Prough ranks 20th. Prough is a versatile player who has played both offense and defense for the Badgers this season.
Five freshman skaters have combined for 31 points this season, with Brianna Decker missing nine games due to injury.
Since Decker's return, the freshman forward has earned 11 points, including six goals and five assists. Decker is quickly making her presence known with three multi-point games.
Wisconsin has participated in three shootouts this season, two of which were in non-league play. UW dropped the first against Wayne State 1-0 in three rounds before dropping a 2-1 shootout in four rounds to Providence. Wisconsin dropped its third shootout when it counted against UMD to forego the extra point in conference standings. McKeough is the only Badger who has scored for UW this season in a shootout.
Scouting the opponent
Minnesota State (4-6-4, 2-6-4 WCHA)
The Mavericks enter the weekend after recording a tie and a loss on Dec. 4 and 5 against in-state rival and fellow WCHA opponent, St. Cloud State.
In Friday's tie the Mavericks and the Huskies battled to a 4-4 tie. MSU saw goals from Jackie Otto, Emmi Leionen, Holly Snyder and Ashley Young. Leionen tallied her seventh goal of the season in the 4-4 draw. In 65 minutes of play, Alli Altmann notched 27 saves in net for the Mavericks.
In Saturday's 1-0 loss MSU outshot SCSU 32-23. Altmann finished with 22 saves for Minnesota State.
So far this season, the Mavericks have found the most success while on the road with a 4-4-1 record in comparison to a 0-2-3 record at home, as the Badgers visit the Mavericks.
Senior Ashley Young leads the Mavericks with 13 points and sophomore Emma Leinonen has a team-leading seven goals. Sophomore Alli Altmann has started in 12 games with a 4-4-4 record this season.
