The University of Minnesota Duluth concluded its WCHA series against the University of Wisconsin Sunday afternoon by dropping a 5-2 decision to the Badgers at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin’s four-goal outburst in the second period proved to be the difference in the matchup.
UMD junior forward Nora Tallus was back in the line-up after sitting out yesterday’s contest that resulted in a 1-1 draw. Tallus suffered a concussion earlier in the week during practice but was cleared to play Sunday.
Wisconsin got on the board first with a power play goal. UMD freshman Juliane Jubinville was serving a minor penalty for body checking when Steph Millar, standing alone back-door, knocked in a rebound past Bulldog goalie Riitta Schaublin only 2:42 into the period.
The Bulldogs evened the score with less than thirty seconds remaining before intermission. Tricia Guest picked up a lose puck in the corner, walked up the wall and passed to Suvi Vacker at the point. Vacker lofted a quick shot that made its way through traffic, finding the back of the net past Wisconsin’s Meghan Horras. The goal was Vacker’s second of the season.
Meghan Hunter put the Badgers back on top 5:18 into the second period. Hunter received a pass from the corner and walked in alone and side-stepped Schaublin for a top-corner tally. Six minutes later Wisconsin’s Lindsay Macy gave her squad a two-goal lead when UMD turned the puck over at their own blue line. Carla McLeod sent Macy in alone and she fired the puck past Schaublin. The Bulldogs pulled within one on a power play goal by Caroline Ouellette, assisted by Jenny Potter at 9:30 .
The Badgers responded at 8:45 as Meaghan Mikkelson tapped in a rebound. Wisconsin added one more before the second ended. Hunter ripped a shot over Schaublin’s shoulder at 15:20 to put the Badgers up by three going into the final frame.
The Bulldogs are now 10-8-2 overall, and 6-5-1 in the WCHA. UMD returns home next weekend to face another conference foe, St. Cloud State. The puck drops January 24 and 25 at 2:05 pm at the DECC.
Three stars:
1. Meghan Hunter (WI)
2. Meghan Horras (WI)
3. Lindsay Macy (WI)
