Wisconsin women's hockey: Badgers swept by Minnesota

The No. 4 Wisconsin women faced an early test, traveling to No. 1 Minnesota in just the second weekend of the season. The Badgers came up just short, falling 2-1 to the Gophers Friday night and 2-0 on Saturday.

The Badgers dominated the game Friday night, but couldn't find the back of the net to overtake their WCHA rivals. Wisconsin scored first , halfway through the first period, on an Erica Sowchuk PP goal. Minnesota equalized less than two minutes later.

Wisconsin came out firing in the second, out-shooting the Gophers 18-5 on the period, but Minnesota goalkeeper Amanda Leveille kept them off the scoreboard.

Minnesota scored the game winner on an unassisted PP goal with seven minutes left in the game. The Badgers out-shot the Gophers 35-23 on the night. Freshman Mellissa Channell earned the assist on Sowchuk's goal - her first points as a Badger.

On Saturday, senior goalie and captain Alex Rigsby kept the Badgers in the game until late in the third quarter. She blanked the Gophers on all four of their power plays and collected 19 of 31 total saves in the first two periods.

Minnesota scored just five minutes into the third period and it looked like freshman Sydney McKibbon had her second goal of the season to even the score, but the goal was disallowed. '

Freshman Sarah Nurse led the team with nine shots on Saturday, but the Gophers took offensive control in the second game of the series, out-shooting the Badgers 14-5 in the third period and 33-27 overall.

Wisconsin returns home for a six-game homestand against St. Cloud State, Lindenwood and Ohio State before an off week and a trip to Vail, CO.