Senior defenseman Mira Jalosuo's goal midway through the third period broke a scoreless tie and helped the top-ranked Gophers women's hockey team beat No. 10 Wisconsin 2-0 on Sunday at Ridder Arena.
It was the Gophers' NCAA-record 26th consecutive victory and first sweep of the Badgers since the 2004-05 season. That sweep also came at Ridder Arena.
Becky Kortum assisted on Jalosuo's goal and on Amanda Kessel's clinching empty-net goal with 10 seconds left for the Gophers (18-0, 12-0 WCHA). Kessel's goal gave her an NCAA-best 48 points.
The Badgers, who had won seven of eight before the weekend series, fell to 10-6-2 and 6-6-2.
Noora Raty made 18 saves, 11 in the first period, for her seventh shutout of the season for the Gophers.
Alex Rigsby made 36 saves for Wisconsin and was especially strong in the second period, when the Gophers outshot the Badgers 17-2.
"Minnesota was able to capitalize on the power play late in the game, and that was basically the difference," Badgers head coach Mark Johnson said. "Alex played really well and gave us a chance to win. As I told our team, they played hard, they competed and that's all you can ask of them."
Rigsby made 73 saves in the two games.
The No. 1 Gophers play Friday and Saturday at Bemidji State.
Mankato, UST to be home for NCAA playoffs Minnesota State Mankato in NCAA Division II and St. Thomas, in Division III were both granted home games for their semifinal playoff matchups Saturday. Both teams are 13-0.
The Mavericks play Valdosta State, and the Tommies play Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Both games are tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m.
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