ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Junior forward
Sam Cogan and sophomore goaltender
Kristen Campbell led the top-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey team to a 1-0 road victory over St. Cloud State on Friday at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
Cogan's goal 6:27 into the first proved to be the difference for the Badgers (20-1-0, 11-0-0-0 WCHA) as the junior flicked the puck into the St. Cloud State (3-13-2, 1-10-2-0 WCHA) net off assists from
Maddie Rowe and
Mikaela Gardner.
Campbell made numerous stops on SCSU rushes to improve to 20-1-0 in net for UW and to earn her fifth shutout of the season.
Play of the game
Campbell stepped up big for the Badgers, as she denied Laura Kluge's penalty shot attempt five minutes into the second period. It marked the first penalty shot attempted against the Badgers since the 2012 NCAA Frozen Four and UW's first penalty-shot stop since the 2009-10 season.
Three notes of the game
- Campbell stopped all 16 shots she faced from the Huskies to earn her fifth shutout, which is tied for the league lead.
- Wisconsin was dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 33 of the 46 draws against St. Cloud State. Cogan won 13 of the 14 draws she took.
-Â The Badgers became the first team in the country to reach the 20-win mark. It marks the eighth-straight season Wisconsin has won 20 games and the 17th time the program has reached the milestone.Â
Straight from the rink
UW head coach Mark Johnson
On the game:
"I thought the first period we had a real solid period. In the second period, they (St. Cloud State) created a little bit of energy with the penalty shot miss and then they did a nice job of killing two of our power plays. We created some energy and made some mistakes in the second period. We talked about it in between periods and came out and played a really good third period. It was a good learning experience where you're up a goal, and what do you need to do from a little things standpoint to get to the end with either a 1-0 or an empty net 2-0 victory."Â
On Kristen Campbell's play:
"The biggest save is the penalty shot. We gave up a couple breakaways in the second period, and we gave one up in the third period. Without her effort today, we may not win the hockey game. She earned the shutout, and had to make a couple key saves at different points in the game so kudos to her and congratulations to her."
Junior Sam Cogan
On her goal:
"It was a nice shot by Gards (
Mikaela Gardner) and a beautiful tip by
Maddie Rowe and then it just sat there in the front. I was like, 'Okay, the goalie is shorter so I have to get it up high," so it was just kind of like a flip goal. I got it right over her shoulder and it went in."
On playing close games:
"I think these 1-0 games build character. It's definitely going to help us going forward because the 1-0 games, they're close and you just have to be determined and keep working hard no matter what because it can go either way. They're scary but helpful."
Sophomore Kristen Campbell
On her shutout:
"I thought in the first period we definitely controlled a lot of the play. I think when they (St. Cloud State) get chances, you have to step up even if you haven't seen shots. The penalty shot came at a time where a save needed to be made. I think it's just keeping yourself mentally in the game so when there is an opportunity, you're there."
On facing the penalty shot:
"You know it's coming when there's a penalty shot so it's just attacking the shooter, standing square to the puck and doing all that you can to not commit too early and force the shooter to make a move."
Up next
Wisconsin wraps up its series with St. Cloud State on Saturday with a 3 p.m. contest.
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