Madison, Wis. --- Senior goaltender
Brianna Quade made a season-high 42 saves, but Minnesota State women's hockey lost to No. 1 Wisconsin 5-0 in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game on Friday night at LaBahn Arena.
Quade (3-14-2) kept the Mavericks (6-19-3, 3-16-2-0 WCHA) within striking distance of the top-ranked Badgers (23-2-1, 18-2-1-0 WCHA) by stopping 16-of-17 shots faced in the first period and 17-of-18 shots in the second period. It is the ninth time this season that Quade has eclipsed the 30-save plateau and the first time she has stopped at least 40 shots in a game in 2016-17.
The Maverick defense also did their part to keep the Mavericks in the game by blocking a season-high 23 shots on the evening – one more than their previous season best of 22, which has been reached twice.
However, the Badger attack, which leads the nation with 4.00 goals scored per game in 2016-17, broke through to score single goals in the first and second periods, before adding three more goals in the third period – putting the game out of reach.
The five Wisconsin goals were scored by four student-athletes: freshman defenseman Mekenzie Steffen (2-4--6), junior forward Annie Pankowski (17-15--32), freshman defenseman Maddie Rowe (2-0--2), and freshman forward Alexis Mauermann (6-4--10). Pankowski led all goal scorers in the game with two goals on the night. The Badgers also tallied nine assists on their five goals.
Three of the Badgers goals came in special team situations. Wisconsin converted on 2-of-6 power play opportunities and also scored a shorthanded goal. Minnesota State finished 0-of-4 with the man advantage.
Sophomore forward
Corbin Boyd (2-9--11) was the most proficient Maverick in the face-off circle – winning 14-of-25 face-offs on the evening.
Minnesota State and Wisconsin conclude their series on Saturday afternoon. Puck drop is at 3:07 p.m., at LaBahn Arena.
Listen to head coach
John Harrington's postgame comments below.
-30-