MANKATO, Minn. – Wisconsin women's hockey junior
Kristen Campbell stopped all 15 shots she faced as the top-ranked Badgers blanked Minnesota State, 2-0, on Saturday at the Verizon Center.
UW struck first on the power play as junior
Abby Roque recorded her WCHA-best fourth power-play goal to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the opening stanza.
Four minutes into the second, freshman
Sophie Shirley tallied her team-leading seventh goal of the year off assists from Roque and
Grace Bowlby to give the Badgers a two-goal lead heading into the third.
The Badgers completed the sweep of Minnesota State as their penalty kill came up huge in the final period. In the waning minutes, UW was on a 5-on-3 penalty kill for more than a minute but held the MSU power play in check.
Three Notes of the Game
- After potting a pair of power-play goals this weekend, UW's power play ranks second in the WCHA with a .250 clip (10-of-40).
- Junior defenseman Mekenzie Steffen assisted on three of the Badgers' four goals this weekend against the Mavericks.
- UW extended its winning streak against Minnesota State to 23 games. The last time the Badgers fell to the Mavericks was in the first round of the 2014 WHCA Playoffs.
Play of the Game         Â
Roque's game-opening goal set the tone for the game and gave UW its NCAA-leading 17th first-period goal. After Roque's one-time attempt was denied by MSU netminder Abigail Levy, Roque collected the puck, skated behind the net and launched a backhanded shot into the goal.
Straight from the Rink
Junior forward Abby Roque
On getting the sweep:
"I think it's really good, obviously we're missing some players, but I think our team really pulled together and we really filled those spots. Everybody knew their role and needed to come out hard and that's why we got the two wins."
On the power play clicking:
"I think just working at it in practice has been a really key factor to it. We know what each other is trying to do and we all communicate out there and we all are pretty similar players so I think just putting the pucks on net and knowing where to go."
Junior goaltender Kristen Campbell
On her second shutout of the year:
"Honestly, I think everyone was just doing the little things right. We knew today that Minnesota State was going to come back really hard at us so I think just focusing on the process, one period at a time, and one shot at a time really helped in today's win.
On the bye week:
"I think most importantly rest and recovery will be huge. We've played 12 games now and have eight more to go this half so I think just taking care of our bodies and making sure that we're ready to go heading into Bemidji week."
Up Next
UW will have next weekend off before hosting Bemidji State Nov. 16-17 at LaBahn Arena.
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