The Gophers women's hockey team had an 11-game winning streak come to an end in Nashville last Saturday.
No. 5 Gophers, No. 1 Badgers to renew women's hockey rivalry this weekend in Madison
The No. 5 Gophers will face the undefeated and No. 1-ranked Badgers, who have outscored their opponents 80-14.
December 2, 2021 at 6:59PM
Heading into this weekend's series at top-ranked and defending national champion Wisconsin, Gophers senior forward Abigail Boreen said the Gophers' 2-1 loss to Colgate was "not a bad thing. We take the loss as a learning [experience]. We just have to regroup."
Gophers coach Brad Frost said that despite the loss, "the trip was fun. We played really well against Mercyhurst [last Friday]. The game against Colgate was one of the most interesting I've seen — 14 penalties on the two teams through two periods. It was a battle of special teams. It would have been nice to win. We can always get better."
Boreen agrees that the Gophers can improve, "at not getting penalties. But, our penalty-kill was good."
This weekend's series (BTN Plus) between the No. 5 Gophers (12-4, 7-3 WCHA) and Wisconsin (15-0-1, 11-0-1) will feature two of the top four offenses in Division I women's hockey.
The Gophers are fourth in goals scored (68) while the Badgers are third (80). The Badgers have outscored their opponents 80-14.
The Badgers opened the season with 12 consecutive victories before the winning streak ended with a 0-0 tie against Bemidji State at home. The Badgers won the shootout to earn the extra point, then defeated the Beavers 8-1 the next night. The Badgers then swept St. Thomas in St. Paul, 7-1 and 5-1, before being idle last weekend.
The Badgers have three players with at least 10 goals — Casey O'Brien (16), Makenna Webster (14) and Daryl Watts (11).
Watts was named a first-team All-America last season after leading the WCHA in goals, points, game-winning goals and plus/minus.
"She's gifted," Boreen said. "You have to be aware of her when she's on the ice."
Frost said the Badgers "are what we expected. They're a good team and well-coached."
Badgers defenseman Grace Bowlby, a senior from Edina, has contributed 14 points (one goal, 13 assists). She also was a first-team All-America last season.
Boreen, a Wisconsin native who played at Hill-Murray, has eight goals — matching her 2020-21 total — and 13 assists in 16 games this season.
- Senior center Taylor Heise — Boreen's linemate — was named the Hockey Commissioners Association' national player of the month for November. She had eight goals and eigh this season.
Minnesota, ranked first in the nation, dealt with injury and absence against No. 3 Michigan State.
