MADISON, Wis. – Thanks to six unanswered goals, the third-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey team raced past Merrimack College, 6-1, at LaBahn Arena on Friday night. 

Lacey Eden and Laila Edwards each lit the lamp twice, while Britta Curl and Cassie Hall also found the back of the net as the Badgers (15-4-0) secured a win over the Warriors (6-11-2) in the first game of 2024. 

Merrimack struck first but the Warriors' lead did not last long as Eden answered back just 12 seconds later with a laser into the back of the Merrimack net.

The Badgers took the lead in the second period as Edwards went top shelf to give UW a 2-1 lead with 6:51 left in the period.

Minutes later, Curl scored on a rush, giving UW a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes of action. 

Eden tallied her second of the night late in the third period, while Hall batted one in with just over two minutes to go. 

With less than 30 seconds remaining, Edwards joined Eden as she grabbed her second score of the night. 

Jane Gervais stopped 15 of the shots she faced as she picked up her eighth win of the season.

Three Notes of the Game
- The Badgers improved to 3-0-0 all-time against the Warriors after sweeping Merrimack during the 2021-22 season. 
- Thanks to their ninth sellout of the season, the Badgers continue to lead the NCAA in both total and average attendance. 
- Wisconsin outshot the Merrimack 36-16, including a 16-4 advantage in the second period. 

Straight from the Rink
Head Coach Mark Johnson
On coming back after break:
"We were practicing well, but it's tough to simulate game competition. The first period was shaking the cobwebs out, getting back into the swing of things. They put us on our heels, but the nice thing is Lacey (Eden) came right back the next shift and tied the game at 1-1 instead of playing a length of time down a goal. We needed to get our legs back, the timing down, and eventually as the game wore on that's what happened."

Sophomore Laila Edwards:
On starting the second half of the season:
"I was super excited to get back going with the team. I've missed playing with them, its been almost a month. I think we're excited to get this second half of the year going and hopefully get that national championship at the end, but it all starts here in these games and what we work on to get better." 

Junior Lacey Eden
On a quick answer to Merrimack's first goal:
"That's huge. It just shows how our team handles adversity when we get scored on. We don't hold over, we go right back at it the next shift. To get that one really changed the momentum of the game right away."

Up Next: The Badgers and Warriors wrap up their series on Saturday with a 5 p.m. contest at LaBahn Arena. The game is sold out but fans can watch on Big Ten Plus or listen on The Game 1070 AM.