Oct. 24, 2015
MADISON, Wis.-- The No. 2/3 Wisconsin women's hockey team set a program record with its sixth-straight shutout as the Badgers blanked No. 6 Bemidji State, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon at LaBahn Arena.

Wisconsin's sixth-consecutive shutout marks a new program record and ties the 2012-13 Minnesota squad for the longest streak in WCHA history. The last time the Cardinal and White conceded a goal was on Oct. 3 in the first period of the Badgers' 8-1 win over Providence in San Jose, California and UW has held its opponents scoreless for the last 401 minutes, 45 seconds of play. 

Junior Ann-Renee Desbiens stopped all 16 shots she faced to earn her NCAA-leading fifth shutout of the year. The La Malbaie, Quebec, native also leads the nation in goals-against average (.030) and save percentage (.980).

"It's pretty awesome," Desbiens said, "It's a team effort, you definitely can't do that by yourself. It was definitely our biggest challenge of the year. They're ranked sixth so that's pretty awesome to be able to sweep them at home."

After missing the previous two games, Wisconsin (8-0-0, 6-0-0-0 WCHA) junior Sarah Nurse picked up right where she had left off, scoring early in the first period to give the Badgers the 1-0 lead on a shot from the circles that just trickled past Bemidji State (6-2-2, 3-2-1-0 WCHA) goaltender Brittni Mowat.

The Badgers scored again late in the first period, when Baylee Wellhausen spotted the loose puck in the crease and knocked it home for the two-goal lead.

Bemidji State took a penalty right off the bat in the second period, giving the Badgers their first power play chance of the night. Sowchuk, uncovered in front of Mowat, was able to catch a loose rebound and put it away to propel the  Badgers 3-0 over the Beavers.

After over 30 scoreless minutes, Sowchuk lit the lamp one last time for Wisconsin, redirecting Maddie Rolfes's slapshot to put the game away late in the third period.

The Badgers outshot the Beavers 46-16, marking the fifth game this season the UW has registered 40 or more shots in a contest.

"I thought today's game was better than last night," UW head coach Mark Johnson said. "We took care of the puck better today than we did last night and the result was that we played a lot more in our offensive zone today."

Wisconsin has outscored its opponents 42-2 during its first eight games and are one of only three teams in program history to start 8-0-0. 

The Badgers hit the road next, taking on Minnesota State at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, Minnesota, on Oct. 30-31. Both games are slated for 2 p.m. starts.