Senior goaltender Alexa Dobchuk saved 26 of 33 shots that came her way, but it wasn’t enough for a win, as the St. Thomas women’s hockey team lost 7-1 to No. 1 ranked University of Wisconsin-Madison Saturday at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights.
The Tommies (4-8-1, 2-7-1 WCHA) are on a three-game skid, allowing 21 goals over the span. Acting coach Bethany Brausen felt optimistic despite the loss.
“Not the score that you want, but felt encouraged by different stretches in the game,” Brausen said. “Two minutes at a time, five minutes at a time, really pulled some momentum together and had some good shifts.”
Wisconsin’s (14-0-1, 10-0-1 WCHA) offensive firepower stayed consistent with their performance so far this season, having allowed 12 goals in 14 games, while posting 68 offensively.
The reigning NCAA National Champions were held to one score by sophomore forward Maddi Wheeler throughout the first period as the Tommies defense was aggressive to start the game. Wheeler joined two other teammates with multiple goals as the Badgers poured on the rest of their six goals, amid Wisconsin fans chants of “we want more.”.
The Tommies, with Brausen at the helm while coach Joel Johnson was out on Olympic obligations, could not generate much offense against the Badgers. Wisconsin fifth-year goaltender Kennedy Blair looked poised as she posted a .909 save percentage, stopping ten out of eleven shots.
Brausen acknowledged the magnitude of playing a top-ranked team, their second encounter of a No.1 rank since their 4-1 loss against Ohio State earlier this season.
“It’s kind of what we’ve seen from them in the past, they’re a very talented team, good pool of scorers, very fast,” Brausen said. “With a team like that you try to limit their time and space.”
On the offensive side of the puck, the Tommies had breakaway opportunities that were shut down by Badgers’ defenders closing in on attackers and effectively killing the only power play of the game for the Tommies.
The only goal from the Tommies came halfway through the second period off of a breakaway by first-year forward Maddie Jurgensen, which was her first collegiate goal.
“It was unreal to be able to have my first goal against a team of this caliber,” Jurgensen said.
With knowledge of their opponent after today, the team feels pride in their new Division I identity and is confident for tomorrow’s rematch against Wisconsin.
“We know how to play, we’re a Division I team for a reason,” Jurgensen said. “I think we can go even harder tomorrow.”
With 12 fifth-year and senior returners on their roster, Wisconsin’s experience showed up on the ice. Their seven goals in the game was made possible by 11 assists as the team skated their way to a win by capitalizing on looks at the net and weaving through a porous but aggressive Tommie defense.
“I’ve been really encouraged by how well we’ve been playing in the D zone, whether it’s blocking shots at the point or whether it’s coverage,” Brausen said. “There’s a lot of really good pieces there and I think our players continue to fine tune that.”
The Tommies will remain home to take on Wisconsin a second time at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Jonathan Rosario can be reached at Rosa8273@stthomas.edu