For just the second time in 2020, the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team suffered a setback Friday night at AMSOIL Arena.

The No. 8/9 Bulldogs fell 4-1 to the No. 2 University of Wisconsin, ending a five-game unbeaten streak for UMD, as well as a three-game winning streak against teams ranked in the top-5.  While the Bulldogs are fighting for third place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the Badgers became three points closer to clinching the league title, something only UMD remains in the way of heading into Sunday's showdown.

 

It looked promising early for the Bulldogs when Ryleigh Houston heeded the Senior Day call, avoiding a Badger near the point to wrist a shot from the top of the circle past Kristen Campbell at 11:31 of the first period.

 

But that promise didn't survive the second period, and Wisconsin --outshot 7-2 by the Bulldogs in the opening 20 minutes of play -- got on the board just 55 seconds into the second period after Sophie Shirley found herself alone in the slot for her 27th goal of the year.  The Badgers then took a 2-1 lead on the power play at the 6:09 mark on a shot from Grace Bowlby the left circle.

 

UMD appeared to have knotted the game at 2-2 at 11:49 when Campbell made an initial save on Sydney Brodt, but Gabbie Hughes found the rebound on the ice between Campbell's knees and buried the puck five-hole.  Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, a quick whistle disallowed Hughes' goal, allowing the Badgers to hold a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.


Wisconsin netted two goals in the third period -- one from Daryl Watts who flipped the puck over Maddie Rooney's left shoulder at 1:14 and another by Brette Pettet who redirected the puck in at 3:52 to close out the game's scoring.


Rooney and the Bulldogs were on the end of five Badger power plays, but held the nation's leading power play to just one goal with an extra skater.  Rooney had 28 saves for UMD, and is now just two saves away from taking over the fourth spot all-time among WCHA goaltenders, as well as entering the top-10 in the NCAA.  Campbell had 17 stops for Wisconsin, which improves to 27-4-2 overall and 17-4-2 in league play.


"We want to see more of the first period tonight on Sunday," said UMD head coach Maura Crowell after the game.  "I like it when we play with speed, on our toes, winning puck battles.  There were a lot of layers to net between whoever had the puck and Maddie (Rooney), and we just need the belief.  We had a lot of belief and a lot of energy in the first period, and we need to sustain that against a really good team."


UMD (16-10-5, 11-8-4) will host the Badgers Sunday at AMSOIL for its last regular season game of year.  The puck is set to drop at 2:07 p.m.