It took everything the top-ranked University of Wisconsin had -- plus a little more -- to escape the No. 4/5 University of Minnesota Duluth Saturday morning inside La Bahn Arena in Madison, Wis. The Badgers eked out a 4-3 Western Collegiate Hockey Association win with two power play goals in the final 20 seconds.

 

The Bulldogs first WCHA action of the season was led by the goaltender of junior netminder Eve Gascon, who made 45 saves in the contest and faced eight Badger power plays overall.

"It was a hard-fought game from both sides," said UMD head coach Laura Schuler. "I'm proud of the way we battled, responded to adversity, and kept pushing. Eve was outstanding for us and it was good to have scoring coming from throughout our lineup. Looking forward to tomorrow."

 

In its first skate against a ranked foe, UMD struck first – the fourth time in as many games with the Badgers that UMD has opened with the game's first goal. This time it was senior forward Thea Johansson – who has now scored a goal in her last four games. Johannson took a feed from Mary Kate O'Brien at the blueline, walked the puck into the slot and beat Wisconsin netminder Ava McNaughton at 17:29 of the opening period.

THIS KID CAN SCORE, JOHANNSON's FIFTH of the year!

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— UMD Women's Hockey (@umdwhockey.bsky.social) October 11, 2025 at 11:34 AM

Two and half minutes into the second period, a UMD miscommunication with the puck and Gascon out of the net led to an easy Badger game. Then at 16:29, Wisconsin took its first lead of the game on a goal from Cassie Hall.

 

But the Bulldogs had no intention of going away, and sophomore center Caitlin Kraemer's end-to-end goal drew UMD even at 2-2 with just 6:37 gone by in the third period. 

KRAEMER.

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— UMD Women's Hockey (@umdwhockey.bsky.social) October 11, 2025 at 12:54 PM

Rookie Molly Cole helped the Bulldogs regain the lead at the 12:18 mark, burying her own rebound to put UMD up 3-2. 

ICE COLE!!

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— UMD Women's Hockey (@umdwhockey.bsky.social) October 11, 2025 at 1:01 PM

The Bulldogs, who had been a perfect 6-of-6 on their penalty kill in the game ending into the final minutes, found themselves on the end of a elbowing five minute major call that wasn't initially whistled in the run of play but came about after the Badger coaching staff challenged the non-call. From there, UMD was forced once more on to its penalty, and Wisconsin used an empty net plus the power play to finally break through the Bulldogs penalty kill with a 6-on-4 goal with 20.8 left in regulation.

 

The Badgers then struck again with just eight seconds left to take the final 4-3 lead of the game.

 

Gascon made 45 saves in the much anticipated showdown, her fourth-straight 39 or more saves game against the Badgers (and her second out of the last four with 45 or more). UMD was heavily outshot in the game 49-17, and went 0-for-4 on its power play while Wisconsin went 2-of-8 with help from the 6-on-4 effort in the final two minutes. McNaughton had just 14 saves for the Badgers, who improved to 5-0-0 overall and 3-0-0 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play.

 

The Bulldogs (4-1-1, 0-1-0), will do it all over again tomorrow with game two set for a 1:00 p.m. puck drop.

 

BULLDOG NOTES: UMD is now 3-4 in its last seven games in Madison … Friday morning was the earliest start time for a Badger game in La Bahn's history ... the Bulldogs have scored first in its last four games – all UMD losses … Caitlin Kraemer is currently on a five-game goal scoring streak … the sophomore center has scored in every game so far this season and leads the team with seven points (5g, 2a) … Kraemer shares the goals scored lead with Thea Johannson, who has now scored five goals in her last four games … Johannson is currently sitting at 99 collegiate career points (56g, 43a) … Saturday was Eve Gascon's eighth 45 or more save game of her career and her 10th with 40 or more stops.