Undefeated Badgers remain no. 1 in women's hockey

After a remarkable 4-3 comeback win over the third-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey team remained unbeaten and untied at 8-0-0 this year. For the second consecutive week, the USCHO voters gave the Badgers all 20 votes for the number-one ranking in the country.

Wisconsin dominated the first game of the series, 5-0, but Minnesota looked to turn the tables in game two. 

The Gophers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second period behind two goals from Sydney Morrow and Madison Kaiser. However, Laila Edwards began the Badgers rally by deflecting a Caroline "K.K." Harvey shot on the power play to get the Badgers on the board, 3-1.

Wisconsin took over in the third period. Lacey Eden deflected another Harvey shot on the power play to make it 3-2 just 35 seconds in. The Badgers equalized when Harvey centered a pass right in front of the Gopher goal that Hannah Halverson buried in. Wisconsin captured the lead off a faceoff with a goal from captain Casey O'Brien at 13:53.

According to Nicole Hasse of USCHO, this was the Badgers' first weekend sweep of the Gophers at Ridder Arena since 2017. It was also Wisconsin's sixth consecutive win over Minnesota, a program record.

The Badgers have been an offensive machine so far this hockey season. Wisconsin leads the nation in scoring with 46 goals. Fifteen different Badgers players have scored at least one goal this year, with Laila Edwards averaging a goal per game with eight. Edwards is one of four individual Badger players among the top ten in goals scored in women's hockey. 

Next Friday, Wisconsin takes on Bemidji State at a sold-out LaBahn Arena. BSU comes to Madison with a 1-6-1 record, but the Beavers picked up that lone win last week at home against Lindenwood.