DULUTH – Wisconsin center Casey O’Brien snagged the rebound from a big bounce off the boards and backhanded a pass to winger Sarah Wozniewicz, who popped it past Minnesota goalie Hannah Clark.
The goal, with just 25 seconds remaining in the third period, cracked open a tie game and the top-ranked Badgers edged the Gophers 4-3, claiming their second consecutive WCHA Frozen Faceoff title Saturday at Amsoil Arena.
“It’s a typical Minnesota-Wisconsin game,” Badgers coach Mark Johnson said. “It was back and forth, both goaltenders made a bunch of different key saves for each team and, you know at the end we ended up making a big play when [Wozniewicz] put it in the back of the net with like 30 seconds to go, and that’s the difference in the game.”
The Badgers (35-1-2), unbeaten since a loss against Ohio State in mid-November, also won the regular-season conference title. They head into the NCAA tournament with a 24-game unbeaten streak.
“I like what happened this weekend,” Johnson said. “I like getting a second game just because it’s going to provide something. If you win it, it’s a great experience.”
And if you lose, he said, it helps get you organized for the next game.
Wisconsin scored the game’s first goal midway through the first period. Kirsten Simms intercepted the puck and skated in toward the Gophers’ net. When Clark dropped, she made a quick pass to O’Brien, who scored.
The Gophers (28-11-1) responded only 20 seconds later when winger Allie Franco scored from just a couple of strides off the blue line. They added another when Josefin Bouveng skated in alone on Wisconsin goalie Ava McNaughton and easily put it past her.
