Wisconsin women's hockey wins, but gives Mark Johnson more gray hair
A pair of Wisconsin Badgers skaters continued their goal-per-game scoring pace in the shutout victory
After Wisconsin women’s hockey raised its NCAA-best eighth national championship banner to the rafters, it was time to “flip the switch,” according to UW’s Laila Edwards. The Badgers have officially turned the page on the most remarkable season in program history and are now off and running.
The Maine Black Bears, led by head coach and former Badgers standout Molly Engstrom, gummed up the works for Wisconsin on Friday evening. Still, the Badgers managed to skate away with a comfortable 5-0 victory, remaining undefeated through three games.
Maine held Wisconsin scoreless through the first 25 minutes of play, putting a damper on Wisconsin Badgers head coach Mark Johnson’s plans to feed off the energy of its national championship ceremony, “to get the crowd really into it early, but give them credit. They were well prepared, and played hard, and made things difficult, and their goalie played well. Welcome to hockey, right?”
Regardless of the rocky start and a second period with mistakes that Johnson said cause him to “get gray hairs,” the Badgers posted a second-straight shutout. Plus, a pair of Wisconsin goal-scorers continued their goal-per-game pace.
Laila Edwards has improved day on defense for Wisconsin women’s hockey
Wisconsin allowed two goals in its season-opening series with the Bemidji State Beavers. In both instances, Edwards was the subject of scrutiny for the Badgers. Losing a battle in front of the net on one goal and committing a costly turnover on the other, the senior made a couple of key mistakes while lined up at defense.
At forward last season, Edwards led the country in goals. Johnson, perhaps with the thought that Team USA might want to use his alternate captain on the blue line in the upcoming Olympics, is trying to determine “where can she be most effective.”
In the shutout, there were no costly mistakes for Edwards defensively, and she made her mark on the stat sheet, scoring a game-high two goals. Johnson said in a post-game interview that Edwards “played a much better game” in her second go-around on defense.
“At the end of the day, it’s just hockey,” Edwards said of the move between forward and defender. “So, just go out and play. And I think I have fun playing both, so wherever they put me, I enjoy it.”
Cassie Hall continues hot start
The next to continue her goal-per-game pace, Cassie Hall doubled Wisconsin’s lead on Friday to 2-0. Making back-to-back plays on each end of the ice to put some cushion between the Badgers and Black Bears.
First, the junior stepped up in the defensive zone, blocking a shot attempt from Maine defender Lulu Rucinski. Hall did not end up with the ensuing loose puck, but a follow-up attempt by Rucinski, at a much worse angle than the initial try, led to Hall’s opportunity a few seconds later.
As Hall followed the puck cross-ice, Badgers winger Kirsten Simms managed to chip it back, with plenty of open ice for Hall to chase in transition. The center hurried the puck through the neutral zone before flicking a wrist shot between two defenders, finding the back of the net.
The South, Lyon Michigan native has scored a goal in each of Wisconsin’s three games this season.
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