Top-Seeded Badgers Oust Saints from NCAA Tourney with 4-0 Win
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- The No. 2 St. Lawrence University women's hockey team fell behind top-seeded Wisconsin 2-0 less than four minutes into their 2007 NCAA Semifinal contest. The Badgers then turned things over to sophomore goaltender Jessie Vetter who made 22 saves to extend her National Tournament scoreless streak to 388:13 minutes and lead her team to their second consecutive NCAA Championship game with a 4-0 win over the Saints in game one of the Frozen Four in Lake Placid, NY.
Wisconsin wasted little time in scoring the game's opening goal, as freshman Meghan Duggan scored her 25th of the season a mere 2:15 into the contest to put the defending National Champions ahead 1-0. Duggan came streaking into the offensive end up the right side boards and ripped a shot from the right face-off circle that beat Saints junior goalie Meaghan Guckian on the glove side on the Badgers' first shot on goal.
The unanimous No. 1 team in the country extended their lead to 2-0 only 1:42 later when junior Jinelle Zaugg scored her first of the game at 3:57 of the first period. A St. Lawrence blocked shot created a two-on-two the other way, and when Duggan corralled the puck and fed a pass to Zaugg on the right side, Wisconsin's semifinals heroine from a week ago blasted a one-timer past Guckian on the glove side for a 2-0 Badger lead.
St. Lawrence had a chance to swing some momentum back in their favor as they were given a 5-on-3 power play advantage for 1:48 in the first period when Meaghan Mikkelson and Emily Morris were sent off for minor penalties at 6:55 and 7:07, respectively. However, Wisconsin's penalty kill unit was outstanding, killing off Saints two-player advantage, with senior Sara Bauer killing the final 25 seconds of power play time single-handedly.
With her team trailing 2-0, Guckian needed to regain her composure and keep the Badgers from further extending their first period advantage. The Victor, NY native did just that on another great chance for Wisconsin. Guckian stopped Bauer on a 2-on-1 with 6:44 remaining in the first to keep her team within striking distance when she made a sprawling save in the crease to deny one of the top-3 finalists for the 2007 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.
The Saints offense controlled the puck for much of the remainder of the first period, though they were unable to get anything past Vetter. The Badgers did a nice job of not allowing the Scarlet and Brown to get any close-range opportunities, and Vetter made her biggest stop of the period on a tip chance off the stick of Kerri Wallace to send the Badgers to the locker room with a 2-0 lead at the end of one period.
The Saints trailed 2-0 despite out-shooting Wisconsin 8-4 and having four power play opportunities to their opponent's one.
The second stanza belonged to Vetter and Guckian, who made several fantastic saves each to post a scoreless period. Sophomore Alison Domenico had a chance on a crossing pass from classmate Marianna Locke, but her tipped shot sailed just wide of the left post as the Nepean, Ontario native then crashed into the goal.
A bit of good fortune kept Vetter's shutout streak alive midway through the second period, as St. Lawrence's Carson Duggan fired a shot from the left side, and though Vetter made the stop, the rebound squirted out into the crease for an awaiting Sabrina Harbec. However, Wisconsin's defense swarmed the junior forward, and Harbec was unable to get enough on her shot to get on the empty net.
Right on cue, Guckian matched Vetter's effort, stacking her pads and making a timely save on Kayla Hagen on an odd-man rush. Guckian would then rob Bauer on a chance in the slot at 6:04 of the second period.
The Saints began to push the issue offensively, knowing they needed to score two goals against a goalie who hadn't allowed a single goal since February 9th. Their offensive efforts landed the Frozen Four co-hosts several scoring chances, none better than sophomore Lisa Batchelor's with 4:30 to play in the period.
Batchelor took a feed at the Wisconsin blue line, split the defenders, and skated in one-on-one with Vetter. However, with pressure coming from the Badger defense, she snapped a shot glove side, but Vetter remained perfect by flashing her glove one again, sending the game to the third period with the score still at 2-0.
With her team still trailing, Guckian continued to play well, making two crucial saves to start the period including a big-time stop on Erika Lawler from the right side of the crease. However, the Wisconsin defensive unit continued to frustrate the Saints by closing gaps, putting consistent pressure on the puck, and taking away passing lanes.
The Badgers seemingly put the game away at 8:03 of the third period as they continued to find success while in transition. Much like the previous two goals, Duggan scored her second of the game when she blasted a shot between the right post and Guckian, putting Wisconsin ahead 3-0 with just over ten minutes to play.
Wisconsin would tack on an insurance goal only 33 seconds later when Zaugg took a pass from Bauer at the blue line after a turnover, and moved in on a breakaway against Guckian. She rifled a shot over the netminder's blocker and into the goal for her second of the game and to send the Badgers into the 2007 National Championship game.
With her 22 save performance, Vetter extended her active NCAA Tournament shutout record to 388:13 minutes and moved Wisconsin to 3-1 all time against the Saints. It was also the first time in the all-time series that the game had not been decided by a single goal.
St. Lawrence finishes their 2007 season with a 29-8-3 record, while Wisconsin moved to 35-1-4. Guckian closed with 20 saves and fell to 24-8-3, while Vetter improved to 19-1-3. Their appearance in Lake Placid was the Scarlet and Brown's fourth straight in the NCAA Frozen Four.
The University of Wisconsin will play in the 2007 National Championship game on Sunday, March 18th at 1:00pm against the winner of the second semifinal game between Boston College and Minnesota Duluth.
