POTSDAM, N.Y. – Thanks to a three-goal flurry in the third period, the No. 1 Wisconsin women's hockey team earned head coach Mark Johnson his 400th career victory with a 4-1 triumph over No. 7 Clarkson on Saturday at Cheel Arena.

Johnson is now only the third head coach in NCAA Division I women's hockey to collect 400 victories on the bench and became the first WCHA coach to accomplish the feat.

"We've had good teams, we've had good opportunities, and it's fun to watch each group develop and see what the finished product looks like," Johnson said. "It looks good right now, but the big thing is to continue to improve and give opportunities to each group you work with. Fortunately, we've had some good players and teams and if you're at it long enough you get the numbers."

"He's incredible," captain Sydney McKibbon said. "He's grown this program pretty much from the bottom up. It's one of the most well-known programs in the country and one of the most well-respected, so we're extremely happy to have him.
 
"He's definitely the best coach I've ever played for and I wouldn't trade it for the world."
 
McKibbon, along with her linemates Sarah Nurse and Presley Norby, played a big part in giving Johnson his historic victory as the line combined to score all four goals for UW. McKibbon scored the first and final goals of the games for Wisconsin (5-0-1), while Norby tallied her first career goal, which proved to be the game winner, midway through the third. Nurse added a short-handed strike to put the game out of reach for the Golden Knights (2-3-1).
 
"It's amazing playing with them," Norby said about her line mates. "They work super well together, and they've really helped me come into the line. They work really well with me, they're really good at communicating, they're positive on the bench, and they are just really good teammates and even better linemates." 

Striking first for the Badgers, McKibbon fired a rebound past CU netminder Shea Tiley off a Norby blocked shot to give UW a 1-0 lead with a minute remaining in the opening frame.

But the Golden Knights found their own late period magic in the second, as Josiane Pozzebon scored on a CU power play to level the game at 1.

With 11 minutes left in the third, Nurse threaded the needle to Norby who fired it into the top right corner to give UW a one-goal advantage.

"It was really exciting," Norby said about her first collegiate goal. "I got a really good pass and it was really fun celebrating with my line mates. I'm always really antsy to score and get pucks on net, so breaking that seal is really exciting and just makes me look forward to the rest of the season."

Nurse doubled the Badgers lead with a goal of her own while UW was on the penalty kill. The forward stole the puck and dished it to McKibbon to start a short-handed rush. McKibbon passed the puck back to Nurse as she was darting toward the front of the net and Nurse lit the lamp for the second time during the non-conference series.

Nurse's goal marked her fourth career short-handed effort, which ranks seventh in program history.

Minutes later, McKibbon lit the lamp again, as she received the puck after a nifty spin by Norby to collect her second strike of the contest.

Senior Ann-Renée Desbiens made 24 saves to earn her 75th career victory, which puts her in a tie for third in program history with Jackie MacMillan. 

Wisconsin outshot Clarkson 28-25 during the contest and the Badgers were able to kill four of their five penalties on Saturday.

UW continues its road swing with a trip to Grand Forks, North Dakota, to take on the UND Fighting Hawks. Faceoff on Oct. 22 and 23 is set for 2 p.m. CT.