The Badgers have back-to-back Top 5 matchups on their schedule.
The No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers (6-0, 2-0) continued to fire on all cylinders over the weekend, sweeping then-No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth (3-3, 2-2) at LaBahn Arena. What’s more, they did it with quiet performances out of their two 70-point scorers from a season ago.
Sophomore Laney Potter scored twice and added an assist in the Badgers’ 5-1 win on Saturday afternoon, and freshman Maggie Scannell found the net twice to help lead Wisconsin to a 7-3 victory on Sunday.
Fifth-year senior Casey O’Brien and junior Kirsten Simms, two of the three finalists for the 2024 Patty Kazmaier Award, were largely held in check. Simms, who averaged nearly two points per game last season, tallied only one assist over the series, setting up junior Laila Edwards for the weekend’s first goal. O’Brien had been hovering near a ridiculous four points per game this season, though that number dropped below three following a two-point weekend, notching an assist in each game.
O’Brien continues to lead the NCAA in points (17) thanks to her big lead heading into the weekend, but a few Badgers are starting to catch up. In fact, Wisconsin boasts six of the top seven NCAA point scorers. Clarkson’s Hailey Winn sits second behind O’Brien, but the next five players are junior Laila Edwards (13), redshirt senior Lacey Eden (12), sophomore Kelly Gorbatenko (12), junior Caroline Harvey (12), and sophomore Cassie Hall (11).
Sophomore Ava McNaughton delivered a scintillating performance on Saturday, stopping 33 shots and only allowing a single blemish in the second period. On Sunday she gave up a goal in each period while facing 23 shots, but the Badgers were firmly in control by the time Minnesota-Duluth scored their second goal.
The weekend series was a testament to Wisconsin’s depth, and might be the best example of why they’re considered the nation’s top team to this point in the season. This weekend they’ll have a chance to tighten their grip on the top spot, heading to Minneapolis for the first installment of the Border Battle this season.
The No. 3 Minnesota Gophers (4-1-1, 0-1-1) dropped their conference opener in Columbus last weekend before taking an overtime loss in their second game against No. 2 Ohio State. The Gophers will be hungry for their first conference win on home ice, and the Badgers will have to contend with a hostile crowd at Ridder Arena for the rivalry games.
Redshirt senior Abbey Murphy is still the straw that stirs the drink for Minnesota. The standout forward is tied with Wisconsin’s Laila Edwards and Lacey Eden atop the NCAA goal-scoring list. The Badgers did well to limit Murphy’s production last year. She scored twice in their first matchup, a 5-3 win for the Gophers, but produced just one goal in four subsequent losses. It’s safe to say that Minnesota’s chances will largely hinge on Murphy’s ability to put points on the board.
Wisconsin should see a familiar face in net on Friday with veteran goaltender Skylar Vetter likely getting the nod. The Badgers have fared well against Vetter over the years, averaging 3.67 goals per game over her nine starts versus Wisconsin.
Saturday may feature a new puzzle in the form of freshman goaltender Hannah Clark, who has split series with Vetter the last couple of weeks. Clark looked great against Ohio State, conceding a goal early in the first period before making 29 saves and forcing a tie with the Buckeyes.
Wisconsin will look to extend their winning streak over Minnesota to five when the Border Battle gets underway Friday night at 6 p.m., airing on B1G+. Saturday’s finale will get a true television broadcast on the Big Ten Network when the puck drops at 3 p.m.
Game Info
Game 1
Date: Friday, October 18
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Minneapolis, MN | Ridder Arena
TV: B1G+ | Radio: 1070 AM
Game 2
Date: Saturday, October 19
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Place: Minneapolis, MN | Ridder Arena
TV: BTN | Radio: 1070 AM