No. 3 Minnesota Falls to No. 1 Wisconsin 3-2 in Madison

[Arlan Marttila]

No. 3 Minnesota Falls to No. 1 Wisconsin 3-2 in Madison
Provided by the University of Minnesota

The No. 3 Golden Gophers lost their first game of the season, falling to No. 1 Wisconsin 3-2 in Madison. Minnesota moves to 4-1-0 on the season, while Wisconsin improves to 5-0-0.

Minnesota got off to a shaky start as the Badgers were able to put two goals on the board in the first four minutes of play. Katy Josephs got the gamewinner just two and a half minutes into the game, finding the upper right corner. Brittany Ammerman got the assist. Less than two minutes later, Carolyne Prevost scored, the first of two goals for her in the game, with assists from Brooke Ammerman and Brianna Decker.

Wisconsin made it 3-0 before the end of the period, as Prevost scored her second goal of the game with just over two minutes remaining in the period. Brianna Decker had the assist.

After intermission, the Gophers came back with renewed energy, but didn’t score until after the halfway mark in the period. Anne Schleper got a wrap around goal at 11:11 on the power play, with assists from Emily West and Sarah Davis. The goal was Schleper’s first of the season, and the 28th of her career.

Minnesota was able to contain the Badgers, not allowing a goal in the second or third periods, but was not able to dig its way out of the 3-0 Wisconsin built up in the opening period.

In the third period, freshman Rachael Bona found the net on a breakaway to tally the first goal of her Gopher career. Kelly Terry had the assist. The Bona goal seemed to spark Minnesota, but the Gophers weren’t able to tie it up. Wisconsin gave the Gophers a couple of power play chances in the final period, including one with just 2:18 remaining in regulation. Minnesota pulled Noora Raty off the ice in the final minute of play, giving the Gophers 42 seconds with six skaters on the ice to Wisconsin’s four. Minnesota was not able to score.

Wisconsin outshot Minnesota 28-27, marking the first time this season that the Gophers did not lead in shots.

The same teams face off again on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.