(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON – Four goals from four different Badgers helped the Wisconsin women’s hockey team to a 4-0 win over the Bemidji State Beavers on Thursday evening at LaBahn Arena.
Redshirt sophomore Claire Enright put together a goal and assist for the Badgers (9-0-0, 5-0-0 WCHA), while Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey and Marianne Picard accounted for the other goals against the Beavers (1-7-1, 0-5-0 WCHA). Edwards became the 33rd Badger to reach 100 career points while Casey O’Brien recorded a helper on the night, moving into third place in Badgers history with 130 career assists.
Edwards opened the scoring on the power play halfway through the first period. Kristen Simms sent a pass from the faceoff circle across the slot for Edwards to one-time past BSU netminder Kaitlin Groess. The Badgers took their 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Picard doubled Wisconsin’s lead seven minutes into the second period. Sarah Wozniewicz and Enright helped generate a Beaver turnover and sent the puck net-bound. The puck caused turmoil in front of the Bemidji State crease and the puck trickled loose for Picard to tap in.
The Badgers added another goal with just 44 seconds left in the period. Harvey took a pass from Cassie Hall in the high slot and sniped it into the top corner to close out the second period with a 3-0 Wisconsin lead.
Wisconsin added one more goal to the scoreline as Wozniewicz sent a pass across the slot and Enright one-timed it into the back of the net with 20 seconds left to play in the game.
Ava McNaughton stopped all 13 shots the Beavers sent net-bound to put together her fourth shutout of the season and ninth of her career.
Notes of the Game
- O’Brien took third place in Badgers history with 130 career assists and is just eight shy of Sara Bauer’s school record of 138 career assists.
- Edwards became the 33rd player in school history to reach 100 career points.
- The Badgers have outshot opponents in seven of their nine games, including outshooting the Beavers 37-13 Thursday.
- Wozniewicz had two assists in the win.
Straight from the Rink
Head coach Mark Johnson
On facing Bemidji State:
“You’re going to have to work hard in these 50/50 battles. If you want to get puck possession, you have to earn it. You have to ask ‘are you managing the puck well’? There were times in the first period where they were connected and created turnovers. It’s a puzzle trying to figure out what it’s supposed to look like. Every night it’s not going to be pretty, but you’re just going to have to work through it.”
On the power-play goal:
“In the offensive zone you know what you’re up against. If you stand on the perimeter, it looks exciting because you have time of possession, but eventually you have to get the puck in the net. If you try to stick handle in there, they’re going to make a turnover and it’s going the other way. It’s about being educated on the game. We figured things out, made a play, and Laila (Edwards) was able to put it in.”
Junior Laila Edwards
On the 100-point milestone:
“It means a lot. But, it kind of shows that you’re alongside some really good players in my three years here, so they’ve made that milestone very reachable, so I owe a lot of thanks to them. But, you know I think, ‘Why stop there? Keep going.’”
Up Next: The Badgers and Beavers wrap up their series on Friday with a 7 p.m. contest at LaBahn Arena.
