(UW ATHLETICS) MINNEAPOLIS -Thanks to a four-goal third period and an 18-save shutout by sophomore Ava McNaughton, the top-ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team earned a 5-0 triumph at No. 3 Minnesota on Friday evening at Ridder arena.
Cassie Hall, Finley McCarthy, Casey O’Brien, Laila Edwards and Maggie Scannell scored for the Badgers (7-0-0, 3-0-0 WCHA) as UW extended its winning streak against the Golden Gophers (4-2-1, 0-2-1 WCHA) to five games.
Hall opened the scoring late in the first period with her sixth of the season. Hall took a feed from Laila Edwards that gave UW a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. UW outshot Minnesota 14-5 in the opening stanza, including a 11-2 advantage over the last 10:35.
Wisconsin dominated action in the second period, outshooting the Gophers 10-6 in the frame, but neither team was able to find the back of the net.
The Wisconsin offense erupted in the third period, scoring four goals in the first 10 minutes to chase Minnesota staring netminder Skyler Vetter.
McCarthy notched her first as a Badger 3 minutes into the final stanza to double the UW lead.
During 4-on-4 action minutes later, UW scored twice as O’Brien and Edwards lit the lamp 16 seconds apart lifting the Badgers to a 4-0 advantage.
Scannell joined the scoring party minutes later, scoring from behind the Minnesota net.
Ava McNaughton was stellar in net, stopping all 18 shots she faced to earn her second shutout of the year and her seventh win.
Notes of the Game
- Wisconsin outshot Minnesota 32-18 marking the sixth time this season UW has outshot its opponent.
- Laila Edwards now has 98 career points and is two points away from becoming the 33rd player in school history to reach 100 career points.
- The Badgers have won their last five against the Golden Gophers, matching their longest winning streak in program history.
- Wisconsin earned its first shutout of Minnesota at Ridder Arena since a 0-0 tie on Feb. 17, 2017.
- This is UW’s biggest win at Minnesota since a 5-0 win against the Golden Gophers Nov. 6, 2010.
Straight from the Rink
Junior Laila Edwards
On the third-period offensive explosion:
“We were more strategic with our puck movement and our forecheck, and we capitalized on our chances. ”
On the shutout:
“I think our defense was exceptional. Obviously, our defenders were solid and our forwards were sound in the D zone. We weren’t giving them anything and Ava (McNaughton) stood on her head.
Sophomore Ava McNaughton
On the border battle victory:
“It’s always a weekend that you look forward to and it’s nice to kind of stick it to them in their own house. We had good play in front of me and it’s always nice to score five goals.”
Up Next: Wisconsin wraps up its Border Battle with Minnesota at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Ridder Arena.
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