 | | |  | 3 Wisconsin 5, Minnesota State 1
All Seasons Arena • Mankato, Minn. • Attendance: 58
Box Score | Box Score  |  | |
| | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | Wisconsin
| 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | Minnesota State
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | | Scoring Summary | | 1st | 13:08 | MSU | Coleman (Johansson) | | 2nd | 10:16 | WIS | Ryan (Clark, Ammerman) | | 2nd | 19:42 | WIS | Pankowski (Ryan) | | 3rd | 6:13 | WIS | Turnbull (Sylvester, Josephs) | | 3rd | 9:24 | WIS | Wellhausen (McKibbon, Burke) | | 3rd | 9:59 | WIS | Sylvester | | | Goaltender Summary | Min | GA | Sv | | WIS | Desbiens (18-4-3) | 60:00 | 1 | 11 | | MSU | Quade (1-6-0) | 60:00 | 5 | 50 | | Statistical Comparison
| WIS | MSU | | Shots on Goal | 55 | 12 | | Power Plays | 0-4 | 0-3 | | Penalties-Minutes | 4-8 | 5-10 | | |
Jan. 31, 2015
MADISON, Wis.. -- Facing a 1-0 deficit midway through the second period, the No. 3 Wisconsin women's hockey team scored five times over the final 30 minutes to skate away with a 5-1 win against Minnesota State at All Seasons Arena on Saturday.
Five different Badgers lit the lamp in the victory, as Jenny Ryan and Annie Pankowski each tallied second period goals, while Blayre Turnbull, Baylee Wellhausen and Karley Sylvester all scored in the final frame.
| Fast Facts | | • Badgers clinched home ice in the first round of the WCHA Playoffs | | • Pankowski has scored in UW's past three games | | • UW leads the nation in penalty killing with a .965 conversion rate | |
The triumph ensured a top-four WCHA finish for the Badgers and Wisconsin (21-4-3, 16-4-2 WCHA) earned the right to host a WCHA Playoff first round series Feb. 27-March 1 at LaBahn Arena.
Minnesota State (2-23-1, 0-19-1 WCHA) took a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission after a bouncing puck snuck past UW netminder Ann-Renee Desbiens late in the first period.
"I think we had a really good first period despite that goal," Turnbull said. "We came out hard and were successful in the following two periods."
"It was one of those situations where the goal we gave up was an own goal, if you use soccer terminology," UW head coach Mark Johnson said. "You can't let that stuff get you down to the point where you stop playing. My response to the team was that we weren't going to let that beat us."
Wisconsin responded heading out of the break, dominating play in the second period. Ryan scored her second goal of the year off assists from Emily Clark and Brittany Ammerman to knot the game at one.
Momentum swung the Badgers way late in the period. Wisconsin went on the power play with just over two minutes remaining in the period, firing five shots on net before Sarah Nurse was called for a penalty. The two teams played 4-on-4 hockey for 43 seconds before Pankowski scored as the MSU penalty expired to give UW a 2-1 lead with 18 seconds remaining. It marked her 14th goal of the year and her first career shorthanded tally.
"It was a big goal heading into the intermission," Johnson said. "It's a completely different game if we head into the break tied 1-1 with them going on the power play to begin the third."
Wisconsin added three goals during a three minute, 46 second stretch in the final period. Turnbull fired a rocket into the top right corner at the 6:13 mark to double UW's lead to 3-1. It marked the senior captain's first goal since UW's series at New Hampshire Nov. 29-30.
"It was nice to be rewarded," Turnbull said. "I think I've been doing the little things right and kept working hard each and every game. It is nice to see that hard work pay off."
Minutes later, Wellhausen found the back of the net off assists by Sydney McKibbon and Courtney Burke to give Wisconsin a 4-1 advantage. Sylvester wrapped up the scoring for Wisconsin, scoring on a shorthanded breakaway for her 12th goal of the season.
Wisconsin outshot Minnesota State, 55-12, marking the fifth time this season UW has recorded 50 or more shots in a game.
Desbiens stopped 11 of the 12 shots she faced and improved to 18-4-3 on the season.
UW held Minnesota State scoreless on all three of its power-play chances. UW has killed its past 45 penalties, a streak that dates back to Oct. 25, 2014 against Bemidji State. This season, the Badgers have killed 82 of their 85 penalties for a conversion rate of .965, the best mark in the country.
"It is a combination of a lot of things," Johnson said. "Today on a smaller rink, you are able to press a little bit more and keep them out of rhythm. If they do get opportunities, then your goaltender has to step up. It is something that you continue to work on and hopefully we continue to have success."
Wisconsin hosts No. 6 Minnesota Duluth to LaBahn Arena next weekend, with faceoff set for 7 p.m. Friday. Prior to Saturday's 7:30 p.m. faceoff, the Badgers will recognize their senior class.
