WCHA women’s weekend wrap-up (Updated)

Amanda Kessel’s seven-point weekend (4-3–7) led Minnesota to a sweep of Ohio State. (Photo: WCHA.com)

Here’s an update to this morning’s blog now that this afternoon’s Bemidji State/Wisconsin series has been completed.

Bemidji State at Wisconsin

Friday: BSU 1  UW 0
Sunday: BSU 3  UW 3 (Badgers win shootout 2-0)

Kristin Huber scored the Bemidji State’s only goal at 4:54 of the third period and BSU goaltender Abby Ryplanski made the goal stand up as the game winner making 27 saves as the Badgers suffered their third consecutive shutout on Friday night. With the win, the Beavers spoiled the inaugural night of Wisconsin’s LaBahn Arena. Wisconsin broke it’s 225:10 scoreless streak on Sunday afternoon on Brianna Decker’s goal at 13:56 of the second period and carried a 3-2 lead over the Beavers into the final minute. But Bemidji State’s Sadie Lundquist scored with just 56 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. After a scoreless extra period the game was decided by a shootout in which Decker and Madison Packer scored for the Badgers while BSU’s Lundquist and Kristin Huber were stymied by UW goalie Alex Rigsby who finished with 18 saves. BSU goalie Abby Ryplanski stopped a remarkable 42 Wisconsin shots.

Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota State

Friday: UMD 3  MSU 3 OT
Saturday: MSU 1  UMD

Two goals by Zoe Hickel and another by Pernilla Winberg gave UMD a 3-0 lead midway through the third period on Friday night. But the Mavericks rallied with goals by Casey Hirsch, Tracy McCann and Kathleen Rogan (with 11 seconds remaining in regulation) as Minnesota State salvaged a tie. On Saturday night, McCann’s goal at 11:34 of the final period would prove to be the only goal the Mavs would need as MSU goalie Danielle Butters shut out the Bulldogs stopping all 28 shots she faced.

St. Cloud State at North Dakota

Friday: UND 3  SCSU 1
Saturday: UND 1  SCSU 0

Goals were difficult to come by for the Huskies this weekend in Grand Forks as Molli Mott’s second-period goal on Friday turned out to be the only SCSU shot to tickle the twine. Julie Friend made 26 saves for St. Cloud State on Friday night while reigning WCHA Rookie of the Week, Katie Fitzgerald, denied UND 35 times on Saturday.

Ohio State at Minnesota

Friday: UM 7  OSU 2
Saturday: UM 8  OSU 0

Hannah Brandt (2 goals, 2 assists) and Amanda Kessel (1 g, 3 a) each had four-point nights on Friday night but is was Megan Bozek’s assist on Brandt’s goal midway throught first period which was the story. The assist was the 100th-career point for the senior captain who now joins Winny Brodt, Anne Schleper, and Courtney Kennedy as the only Gopher defensemen to reach that milestone. Three goals by Kessel and a trio of assists by Rachel Ramsey led the Gophers to another blowout win on Saturday. Goaltender Noora Räty, who made 15 saves the previous night, shut out the Buckeyes on 2o saves to complete the Minnesota Sweep.