No. 1 Wisconsin Extends Unbeaten Streak To 32 Games

Badgers force tie with Ohio State to extend streak

Oct. 14, 2007

From Wisconsin Athletics

MADISON, Wis. (www.uwbadgers.com)- A third-period goal by freshman Mallory Deluce helped the No. 1 Wisconsin women's hockey team earn a 2-2 tie with No. 10 Ohio State Sunday afternoon at the Kohl Center to extend its NCAA record unbeaten streak to 32 games.

The Badgers (5-0-1 overall, 1-0-1 WCHA) found themselves down 2-1 after two periods on Sunday, marking the first time that UW has trailed since the Buckeyes put themselves up 2-0 in the first period back on Feb. 9 at the Kohl Center.

But like that game last season, the Badgers would not allow the Buckeyes to hold on to the lead. Deluce (London, Ontario) scored midway through the third period with the assist credited to Zaugg (Eagle River, Wis.), who notched a point earlier when she scored the Badgers' first goal of the game.

Junior goaltender Jessie Vetter finished the game with 17 saves to help the Badgers improve to 28-0-4 in their last 32 games. Ohio State's Liana Bonanno stopped 30 shots.

While on the power play, the Badgers struck first. Senior Jinnelle Zaugg notched her second goal of the season 8:58 into the first period. Alycia Matthews (Castelgar, British Columbia) took the puck from the left point and sent it in to Deluce at the right circle. Deluce then fed it across to Zaugg who finished from just left of the Ohio State net.

Vetter helped the Badgers retain their lead with eight minutes left in the first period. The Cottage Grove, Wis., native made a great stop with her right pad off of a one-timed shot by Ohio State's Hayley Klassen just as a Buckeye power play was coming to an end.

Ohio State battled back though, striking twice in just over 90 seconds late in the second period. The first goal was scored by senior Erin Keys, who finished a nice pass from Ohio State senior Tessa Bonhomme. Mallory Peckels was also credited with an assist on the goal that tied the game at the 17:10 mark.

Another great play by Bonhomme helped Ohio State take the lead just 1:33 later. Bonhomme brought the puck up the length of the ice before spotting freshman Shannon Reilly whose goal put Ohio State up 2-1 with just over a minute to play in the second period.

The Badgers battled back in the third period when Hillary Knight (Hanover, N.H.) found herself with the puck deep in the Badger end. Knight was able to pass the puck to Deluce on the right side of the boards who then skated all the way up the ice before dropping it back to Zaugg who sent a wrist shot on net. Deluce was able to crash the net following her pass to put home the rebound and even the score at two goals apiece.

Neither team created many chances in overtime as Wisconsin, which was playing in its first overtime game since the epic four-overtime game with Harvard last season, had two shots compared to Ohio State's one. The Badgers and the Buckeyes finished the game 0-for-4 and 1-for-5 on the power play, respectively.

The Badgers will take their 32-game unbeaten streak on the road next weekend when they travel to St. Cloud, Minn., to face St. Cloud State Oct.19-20. Both games are set to start at 7 p.m. at the National Hockey Center.