Division I women’s hockey: (1) Wisconsin opens year with a win of 5-2 (4) Quinnipiac – College Hockey

MADISON – The top-ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team opened with a 20-2 victory in 2022 from Quinnipiac on Saturday afternoon. Five different badgers scored, including second-year student Casey O’Brien’s short score – his 21st goal in as many games.

The first batch involved a lot of movement up and down the ice as the teams got to know each other and worked the rust. Wisconsin last played on December 11th, while the Bobcats had not gone on ice since November 27th.

Badgers is known to struggle with breaks, whether it’s a good week or a winter break. The first episode has also been their weakest.

– I think we know that every team will come up against us by playing their best. And that’s why we’re really not sure what to expect from everyone. We watch a video of each team we play. But it looks like everyone has extra equipment when it comes to us. And that’s why we only need a little to adapt. And as long as we can do that, we usually end up winning, Nicole LaMantia said.

On Saturday, Quinnipiac was able to control the puck and keep the attacking area for long periods of time, although the Badgers prevented them from putting anything too dangerous into the net.

“In the middle of the first episode, I think‘ take this thing 0-0 and get to the end of the first installment ’and gain that experience,” said Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson. “

Quinnipiac opened the goal 55 seconds into the second round as Nina Steingauf directed Kate Reilly’s high shot past Kennedy Blair. The goal was judged for a potentially high racket, but it was counted as good and the Bobcats led 1-0.

The lead didn’t last long as Wisconsin’s Caitlin Schneider took Sarah Wozniewicz’s feed and wedged the puck past Corinne Schroeder to level it. Badgers caught up with Quinnipiac. Wozniewicz pulled the defender, leaving Schneider free on the net.

Wisconsin took the lead 2-1 a few minutes later. Nicole LaMantia’s shot was originally saved, but the puck ended up sitting next to Schroeder in the wrinkle. Maddi Wheeler plunged into the puck, but in fact it went in from Bobcat defender who tried to keep Wheeler at bay.

The Badgers beat Quinnipiac 19-8 in the second frame.

Just as Minnesota did in early December, the Bobcats put pressure on a strong front tact, making it difficult for UW to move the puck on the ice. They waited for feeds in the neutral zone and disrupted the timing of the Badgers, leading to a few offsets.

This was worth it at the start of the third installment when Maya Labad caught Maddie Posick on the board behind the Badger Net. He won the puck and slid it onto Taylor House, who stood alone in front of the net and easily tapped it to level the game 2.

O’Brien finally took Badgers forward with a great effort during the Quinnipiac power game in the middle of the third set. He was careful with the puck through the snow and would push the ice in front of the benches and use his body to keep the defender away from the puck while playing towards the net.

– My biggest idea at the moment was just to keep it in front of me and I could drive it down even if I didn’t have full control because I trusted my speed. And luckily it worked, “O’Brien said.

– We practiced a lot yesterday that in the penalty kick we should put pressure on the defenders at the point really hard when they get it, especially if it is not in full control. I saw it rise on the board, but they weren’t sure which player would go pick it up. So I saw an opportunity just to push it past and I know at my speed that I could beat them. And then that five-hole movement, if anyone is asked, I practice it almost every day. So I was pretty confident. ”

The Badgers had several strange players as the third set continued as Quinnipiac pushed to a tie.

“We really want to feel confident playing games, and sometimes when you’re going to do it, especially against a lot of pressure, you’re going to turn it around. I think to get to the place where you connect, you have to learn when it’s the right time, when not. So we’re in the process right now. , Quinnipiac coach Cassandra Turner said.

Wisconsin increased their lead in the waning minutes of the game. Wozniewicz cut in the open and shot the goalkeeper to hit the post. The puck loosened and Katie Kotlowski dropped it back. It bounces once more for Delaney Drake, who tapped it into the net.

Wozniewicz closed the game with three shots, a block and three passes.

“I thought Woz was probably our best striker today. He was everywhere and played well and could have been rewarded with at least one or two goals. He’s a happy kid and he loves to play. The first part of the game where we weren’t very good as a team, he was pretty good, Johnson said.

The teams will return to the ice on Sunday for the second match in the series. Quinnipiac aims to build on the lessons learned from Saturday’s match.

“We have a lot to learn. It’s nice to have challenges the same way we did so we can learn and come back ready to play, ”he said.

“I think we did really good things. We controlled the puck really well and moved the puck very well and are able to hold the puck. When we were able to get the puck, I thought we did a good job of forcing them to defend and create a good look. So tomorrow is fun.”