BEMIDJI, Minn. – So far in 2020, Wisconsin women's hockey junior
Brette Pettet has been clutch as she scored her second game-winning goal in three games to lift the top-ranked Badgers to a 3-2 win against Bemidji State Friday at the Sanford Center.
Sophomore
Sophie Shirley and junior
Natalie Buchbinder also scored for the Badgers (21-1-1, 11-1-1-0 WCHA) to help UW extend its unbeaten streak to 12 games.
UW wasted little time in getting on the board as Shirley collected her 20th goal just 1:16 into the contest off assists from junior
Daryl Watts and sophomore
Nicole LaMantia to give UW a 1-0 lead over the Beavers (12-10-1, 6-7-0-0 WCHA).
After BSU tied things up at 1-1, Buchbinder scored her first of the year early in the second to put UW up 2-1.
Eight minutes later, the Beavers tied things up once again but not for long.
Pettet propelled Wisconsin to a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission, tipping in a senior
Presley Norby pass.
UW created several great looks in the third period but were unable to add to its one goal lead in the final frame.
Senior netminder
Kristen Campbell made 21 saves to earn her NCAA-leading 20th win of the season.
Three Notes of the Game:
- Shirley now has three goals and three assists in three games this year against the Beavers.
- Pettet collected her second game-winning goal in three games after also scoring the game winner against Robert Morris Jan. 4.
- UW associate head coach Dan Koch earned his 500th career win on the Badger bench. Koch started with the program during the 2001-02 season as an assistant coach before leaving to coach Shattuck St. Mary's from 2009-2011. After his stint at Shattuck, Koch returned to Madison as an associate head coach.
Straight from the Rink:
UW head coach Mark Johnson
On the game:
"It was a good game. I thought we competed hard. We played consistent throughout the 60 minutes. In the three periods, the third was our best playing, not only working hard but playing smart. Bemidji was a good opponent tonight. They played aggressive. They're challenging to play against. Other than our power play which wasn't too effective, it was a real good win.
On associate head coach Dan Koch's 500th win:
"He's a big part of our success for a number of years. He does a lot of different things -- all facets of our program -- and I didn't realize that. When Mekenzie [Steffen] after the game and presented it with him, I was real happy for him. He's been around a long time and worked with a lot of young players to make them better and been a big part of our success. Hats off to him.
Junior Brette Pettet
On second game-winning goal in three games:
"I think tonight was the same as a lot of other nights. I can definitely rely on my linemates to do their jobs and hopefully I'm doing the same. I think just sticking with the game plan and going hard every shift. Some days it goes in, some days it doesn't. We've done a good job staying consistent, and that definitely helps.
On the game:
"This is a great game to learn from. We knew coming into this weekend, it was going to be a tough game -- a tough weekend for us. If we can come out on top against teams like this and learn from our mistakes and learn what it takes to win a big game here, then we can definitely take that into bigger games at the end of the year. These are two games that we need to give out all."
Up Next
UW wraps up its time in northern Minnesota with a 3 p.m. game Saturday against Bemidji State. The game will be streamed live on FloHockey.
