The number one ranked Minnesota Gopher women's hockey team knocked off the number eight ranked Wisconsin Badgers, 2-0, in Madison on Friday afternoon. The Gophers also broke the record held by Wisconsin for 32 games unbeaten by getting their 33rd straight win.
The Gophers were facing perhaps their biggest test to date in going into Wisconsin and LaBahn Arena to take on the Badgers who had lost just once at home this season. It would be freshman Hannah Brandt who would get things going for Minnesota when she took a pass in the slot and beat Alex Rigsby through the five-hole.For Brandt, it was her 24th goal this year. The Gophers had to kill off a penalty before the they got one of their own. In a five on three power play, Mira Jalosuo blasted a one-timer off of a pass from Rachel Ramsey. Jalosuo, who is already having a career year, notched her seventh goal of the year. The Gophers would outshoot UW, 12-7 in the period.
The Gophers turned up the pressure in the second period, putting another 15 shots on Rigsby, but could not get another past her. Noora Raty faced just five shots in the period and turned all of them away.
The third period did get interesting went down two skaters during the last two minutes. The Gophers were able to kill off both penalties and ward off the extra attacker when Rigcby was pulled during one of those power plays. The Gophers held on to get a 2-0 win and their 25th victory of the season. The win also gave Minnesota their 33rd straight win, which is now a record for both consecutive wins and longest unbeaten streak.
Noora Raty also kept inching closer to some records. She got her 99th career win, which is just one away from tying the all-time record of 100 wins held by Mercyhurst goalie Hillary Pattenden. Raty also got her 36th career shutout, just three shy of Jessie Vetter's 39.
The two teams tangle again on Sunday afternoon at two p.m.
In other WCHA action:
-North Dakota earned a sweep against St. Cloud State with a 3-0 win . Shelby Amsley-Benzie got the shutout.
-Special teams played a big part in the outcome of UMD vs Ohio State, as all but one goal was scored on the power play. UMD got the win and the sweep of OSU.
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