No. 1 Wisconsin tops Gophers 8-2, splits women's hockey series

MADISON, WIS. — The No. 2 Minnesota women's hockey team dropped an 8-2 decision against top-ranked Wisconsin on Sunday, settling for a split in the series.

Minnesota (14-2-2, 12-2-2-2 WCHA) got goals from Caitlin Reilly and Megan Wolfe.

Sidney Peters made 13 saves on 19 shots before Serena D'Angelo came in for the final 20 minutes and stopped seven of nine shots faced.

Wisconsin (15-2-1, 11-2-1-1) was led by Sarah Nurse's hat trick and two goals from Baylee Wellhausen. Ann-Renee Desbiens made 23 saves as the Badgers outshot the Gophers 30-25.

"They played with great desperation, which we knew they would," Gophers coach Brad Frost said of the Badgers. "You know, when you get beat at home and you're the top team in the country, you don't want to come back and get swept, and so they did a real nice job coming out strong and we didn't have any answers tonight."

Despite the lopsided score, the Gophers held the Badgers scoreless on two power plays. Minnesota was 1-for-2 on the power play.

Nurse gave Wisconsin an early 1-0 lead, but the Gophers responded with a goal by Reilly just 2:59 later.

Megan Wolfe got one back on a Gophers power play at the 15:51 mark of the opening period. Kelly Pannek and Kate Schipper picked up assists on the play, and the Gophers headed into the first intermission down 4-2.

"You go into the second period thinking if we can get the next one, all of a sudden it's 4-3 and it's a different game," Frost said. "But, they got the next one and a few more after that. Credit them, they played really well."