Recap| Box Score
Postgame Quotes
NCAA Quarterfinal
Wisconsin vs. Boston University
March 14, 2015
LaBahn Arena - Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin Head Coach Mark Johnson
On advancing to the NCAA Frozen Four:
"Obviously we're real excited. We have the opportunity go to the Frozen Four. I thought the atmosphere for women's hockey today was outstanding. Both teams had fans, there was a lot of energy, there was electricity. You could feel it when we came on the ice. Two teams that have been playing well the last couple of months and for the most part it was a very good hockey game. We're excited. Scoring a goal three minutes into the game settles the team that scores that goal down a little bit. We're very proud of our team. We practiced hard all week and they came out with a lot of energy and fed off the crowd. I'm very happy with our effort today."
On responding after Mellissa Channel went down with an injury:
"When she went down obviously someone has to step up and take some minutes that she occupies. Kat stepped in and did a great job. Things are going to happen in a game and the next person has to step up and fill that hole. I think we did a nice job doing that."
On getting off to a fast start:
"BU certainly has been playing really well the last couple of months. We look at their lineup; we look at their offensive capabilities with their captain, especially their senior class. They had a group of seniors that decided to do something special. When you watch film the last couple of games you see the confidence they showed. What I like from our end is we had two good days for preparation and to focus in on our opponent. I knew there was going to be a big crowd; I knew there was going to be a lot of energy. As I mentioned earlier, if you're able to score a goal in the first four or five minutes of the game it settles you down a little bit. We scored and took a penalty shortly after that and got a save on that power play. Instead of being 1-1 we were 1-0. There are certain points in the game that can change and it was a tough team."
On the flow of the game:
"I think the one thing both teams had to deal with was it was warm in the building. When you put that many people in here and it's warm outside, the ice had a little trouble setting up. I know some of our players were a little uncomfortable because they're not used to it. Players from BU were going through the same thing. When people get hurt, everybody sees it, everybody understands it on the bench. When I call somebody for the bench to fill someone that's injured, they know that it's their job to step up and not miss a beat. It's easier when you're up 5-0 than if the game was 1-1, so what's going on in the game can make a difference."
Freshman Annie Pankowski (F)
On getting off to a fast start:
"Yeah I think that's always a goal that we have is to put our best foot forward and set the pace from the beginning of the game and I think we did that this game for sure in the first five minutes. We took it to them and kind of showed them that they didn't belong on the ice with us."
On her mindset during the playoffs:
"I think there's a lot of excitement going into playoffs and I think that whole mindset kind of changes everyone's mentality in practice as well. So practices have been more intense, there's a lot more riding on every goal, every shift, every chip, so I think that that kind of momentum stemming from practice and my teammates gives you that kind of energy to go that extra degree."
On getting the win in the playoffs:
"I don't think so much a statement victory as show ourselves how far we've come from the beginning of the season. We put a good foot forward and we just kept coming in waves and waves and we tried not to let the energy fall too low on the bench. It was kind like practice for us to know what it feels like to be in an intense game and to bring it to another level."
On possibly facing Minnesota in the NCAA Frozen Four:
"I think what happened last time we went out there it was just a lot of excitement and a lot of nerves. I think now going up there, we have this momentum behind us that we know how good we can play and how we should play when we go out there. I don't think playing in Minnesota will be that much of a disadvantage for us as long as we play our game."
Sophomore Ann-Renee Desbiens (G)
On shutting down the BU attack:
"I think it was a great team effort. Every single player did their best to back check and make sure we contained those couple amazing players on their team. Just our great team effort to pressure them and not give them any space made us successful."
On heading into the NCAA Frozen Four:
"I think the last couple games we played against them we stepped up and we're playing better. All we need to focus on is keep playing our game and playing how we are right now. We need to focus on that. We're already doing so well since the playoffs started so we just have to keep it easy and simple."
On scoring in the first period:
"It's an exciting time of the year with playoffs coming in. I think our team is just a point right now where we're clicking amazingly on every line and every pairing. It was a great set up and a really great pass. I think we're doing a good job getting pucks to the net right now."
On the team's goals:
"I was kind of talking to the other upperclassman about it just saying it's not a sprint it's a marathon. It's been four years experiencing a game in the WCHA tournament so it was really cool. We keep saying that it's not over and we still have farther to go."
On the team's run compared to other seasons:
"It's always different with a different team. Our team dynamic is really cool right now. We're kind of on the clouds but we're also very humble at the same time, we're not out and about with it. I think we're all focused on the same goal and I think that's what's making us so successful right now."
Boston University Head Coach Brian Durocher
Opening Statement:
"I think it was a fantastic game by the University of Wisconsin. The kids were on their toes for the whole game. I really thought they did a great job of moving the puck around, particularly in situations where I thought we had coverage in the zone, yet the seemed to find that person and the longer they held onto the puck, the trickier it was for us. I don't think we brought our `A' game today. It was unfortunate but I always direct a lot of credit to the opponent and how well they played."
"I think we had a center coming back, kind of was near
Annie Pankowski. She made a line change in the 2D and I guess ended up being 30-40 feet apart instead of really recognizing that were turn and responsibilities. Somebody made a great pass but we still had two defensive men back their in the ice. I think we got a little memorized watching the puck and she obviously went in and made a million dollar shot. She is a fantastic player and I give her a lot of credit for her great move."
On the play of BU's top-line:
"They did make our big line look somewhat average today and that's not easy to do. That's a real talented line with a couple of real goal scorers (Lefort and Tutino) on the wings and a fantastic player in Marie-Philip Poulin in the middle. They did a great job. My assistants kept commenting how even when we did look like we had a rush, they had a third person in there."
