On to the Next One for Women’s Hockey

The quest to repeat is often not an easy one and Wisconsin got a challenge from the 8th seeded Mercyhurst Lakers before taking home a 3-1 victory in front of 2,946 fans at the Kohl Center on Saturday night.  Carolyne Prevost, Brianna Decker, and Hilary Knight all played key roles in the win for the Badgers (34-4-2) who also got a great effort from goalie Alex Rigsby in the win over the Lakers.

With the win Wisconsin moves on to the Frozen Four and gets a chance to redeem themselves at Amsoil Arena where they lost in the WCHA Semi’s just over a week ago.  Awaiting them will be 4th seeded Boston College in Friday night’s first semifinal.  

Carolyne Prevost opened up the scoring in the quarterfinal game at the 11:48 mark of the 1st period with an assist from Brianna Decker.  However Mercyhurst played the Badgers close and evened up the game at 1-1 just 40 seconds before the end of the 2nd period thanks to Kelley Steadman’s goal.  

Wisconsin knew it had to avoid giving up the power play to the Lakers, who had the nation’s best power play unit, converting on 28.3% of their opportunities.  However the Bagers countered with the nation’s best penalty kill.  

Little did the Badgers know how important that penalty kill would be until mid-way through the 3rd period when Carolyne Prevost picked up a loose puck and Wisconsin found themselves on a shorthanded 2 on 1 led by Prevost and Hilary Knight.  

Prevost faked a shot and slotted a great pass to Knight who buried the puck past the Lakers goalie.  That put the score at 2-1 and gave the Badgers the game winning goal.  It was also the first shorthanded goal Mercyhurst gave up all season and it cost them that season.  

Brianna Decker was credited with a goal late in the 3rd period as the Lakers pulled their goalkeeper to try and comeback, but Wisconsin would seal the game with that empty netter, winning 3-1.  

The Badgers will face BC on Friday, March 16th at 5pm Central time with the winner advancing to the National Championship game against either 2nd seeded Minnesota or 3rd seeded Cornell.  The National Championship game is set for Sunday, March 18th at 3pm Central.