Jan. 8, 2010

Box Score | Box Score

FARGO, N.D. – The sixth-ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team suffered a 3-1 loss Friday night against WCHA rival North Dakota at the UP Center in Fargo, N.D.  Wisconsin (12-6-3, 9-5-1 WCHA) avoided the shutout with a last minute goal by Jasmine Giles in the third period.

The Fighting Sioux ended UW’s six-game unbeaten streak and picked up just its second win ever against the Badgers in 27 meetings. Earlier this year in the season opener, North Dakota defeated Wisconsin by a score of 2-0 at the Kohl Center.

North Dakota (4-10-3, 4-10-1 WCHA) made it hard for Wisconsin, jumping to a 2-0 lead after the first period. Alyssa Wiebe scored first for the Fighting Sioux with a shot from the top of the far faceoff circle that took a hard bounce off the initial save and flew over the shoulder of senior Alannah McCready.

The Fighting Sioux scored their second goal of the game at 15:14 when Sara Dagenais stuffed in the rebound for the score. North Dakota outshot the Badgers 10-5 in the first period.

UND increased the lead by one in the second period when Kelsey Ketcher took a shot from the near faceoff circle that bounced off McCready. As she tried to jump on it, UND players swarmed the net and Alex Williams flipped it over and in from the crease at the 10:26 mark.

After being outshot 15-10 in the first two periods, Wisconsin turned up the heat in the third, but it was a little too late. Wisconsin’s Becca Ruegsegger came in and turned aside all seven of UND’s shots to keep them scoreless in the period as Wisconsin fired 17 shots on goal in the third.

But it wasn’t until the final minute Wisconsin would put one past Jorid Dagfinrud. With 27 seconds left in the game, UW pulled Ruegsegger and eventually found the back of the net when Brittany Haverstock took a hard shot from the top of the near faceoff circle that Jasmine Giles stuffed in. Brooke Ammerman was also credited with the assist.

Wisconsin finished 0-for-2 on the power play while also killing off all three of UND’s power play opportunities. McCready finished with 12 saves and Dagfinrud had 26 stops as the Badgers outshot the Fighting Sioux 27-22.

The Badgers played without the help of junior Mallory Deluce and sophomore Carolyne Prevost. Both are currently playing for Canada's National Women's Under-22 Team in Germany at the 2010 MLP Cup.

Wisconsin and North Dakota will complete the series Saturday night at 7:37 p.m. at the UP Center in Fargo, N.D.