Wisconsin advanced to the WCHA’s championship game for the first time since 2011 with a 4-1 win over North Dakota.
“The team is excited to play in a championship game,” coach Mark Johnson said.
Sophomore Sarah Nurse scored twice and added an assist for the Badgers (27-6-4), who also got tallies from Sydney McKibbon and Mellissa Channell.
“I thought Wisconsin played extremely well and really deserved to win,” coach Brian Idalski said.
Tori Williams had the lone marker for host UND (22-12-3), as Ann-Renée Desbiens stymied the other 26 shots.
“I think in a game like that, every single save is important,” Desbiens said. “A goal can change a whole game, so you need to make sure you stay focused on every single one and stay sharp.”
Williams’ strike came with over four minutes left and an extra attacker on the ice, but Nurse extinguished the rally when she hit an empty net 74 seconds later.
“They were obviously playing for their season today, so I think once they got that goal, we needed to come out and have a comeback for them, and I think we responded well,” Nurse said.
Channell gave Wisconsin a first-period lead when she closed down to the top of the circle and hammered a shot high to Shelby Amsley-Benzie’s glove.
“When we get a goal under our belt, we’re a really good team throughout the game,” Nurse said.
Sydney McKibbon doubled the margin by the time the second period was four minutes old, sneaking a shot under Amsley-Benzie’s arm that trickled into the goal.
“If you’re getting chances and opportunities, eventually the bounces will go your way,” Johnson said.
By the time Nurse deflected in a shot on a power play to make it 3-0 with 7:43 gone in the third period, the hill had grown too steep for North Dakota to scramble out.
“Jenny [Ryan] came on the ice late and picked the puck up, and it looked like it was going to go about four feet wide, but Sarah was able to redirect it, and certainly a big goal for us,” Johnson said.
Ryan and McKibbon each had two points.
The Badgers were able to limit the quality chances North Dakota had early.
“They always give us no time,” UND captain Andrea Dalen said. “They’re fast; they’re good skaters. The key for us is just getting it out and working from there.”
She had the best opportunity to cut into the lead in the second period with Desbiens out of position and the puck on her stick in the slot.
“It was just completely missed,” Dalen said. “Should have put that in, but you can’t do much about it but just keep going.”
Unfortunately for UND, its season reaches its conclusion.
“It is by far the most growth of a group, start to finish, that I’ve ever been a part of as a coach, and maybe as a player,” Idalski said. “I have a lot of respect for our leaders, our captains, and our seniors.”
UND lived a turbulent season where lost hockey games were only minor obstacles.
“These kids, dealing with adversity, with teammates being injured, with a teammate losing her father, those are traumatic things for anybody,” he said. “For them to turn around and play a hockey game on top of that? They’re solid kids, and those experiences are going to serve them well as adults, well beyond their time here, and really bonded them this year. When you start to talk about success —- that’s a success.”
Wisconsin gets the chance for additional on-ice success.
“We’re pleased to move on to tomorrow afternoon’s game and look forward to the competition against Bemidji [State],” Johnson said.
The championship game is scheduled for a 1:07 p.m. CDT start.
