Third Period Sinks MSU Women's Hockey

Wisconsin nets six goals in final 20 minutes en route to 7-1 victory

by Dan Myers
November 10, 2005

For two periods of Wednesday night's WCHA women's hockey match-up between the No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers and the Minnesota State Mavericks, the game remained eerily similar to the one played nearly three weeks ago between the teams. The Badgers held a slim edge in shots (21-20) and a one-goal lead on the scoreboard (1-0). It even looked as though the Mavericks would have a chance to end their 25-game winless streak against the Badgers.

But in the third period, the Badgers’ offense mirrored the broken water main forced the game to be moved from All Seasons Arena in October. Their six goals in the final 20 minutes buried the Mavericks 7-1, and dropped MSU’s all-time record versus UW to 0-25-1.

Wisconsin tallied three goals in just over two minutes to gain a 4-0 lead five minutes into the third period. UW sophomore Jinelle Zaugg netted the Badgers' first two goals, both with the man advantage.

"After that second goal, we really got down on ourselves and I don't know why," said head coach Jeff Vizenor. "It just slipped from there. They gained momentum and gained some confidence and everything they touched started going in the right direction."

MSU finally found the scoreboard when freshman Maggie Fisher scored her ninth goal of the season. For Fisher, her goal brought her within one of Amanda Stohr's 10 goals last season, which led the team.

But it didn't take long for Wisconsin to respond.

Just 29 seconds later, Badger freshman Erika Lawler put Wisconsin up 5-1. Her goal not only ended any hope of a Maverick rally, but opened up a second wave of Badger scoring. Heidi Kletzien and Tia Hanson added two more goals less than five minutes after Lawler's to wrap up the scoring.

"It started to get a little frustrating after the fourth goal," Stohr said. "Even when we were able to get one, they came right back down and scored. That really hit us."

The Mavericks have little time to reflect on the loss as they return to All Seasons Arena for a Friday-Saturday series against Wayne State. Face-off Friday is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. and Saturday for 3:07 p.m.