No. 6 Badgers too strong for Warriors

by Tom Balog / Wayne State Beat writer

It wasn't an easy start for the Wayne State Warriors as they began a six-game road trip on the road at No. 6 Wisconsin.

The Warriors (3-6-3, 0-2-0 CHA) went into Madison trailing the Badgers 0-5 in the all-time series and were outscored 32-4 in that span.

The young Wayne State team must not have read the history books, though, as they rolled into the Kohl Center on Thursday night and tied the defending NCAA champions, 2-2.

The Badgers cracked the score sheet first as Geena Prough scored just 2:51 into the opening period (pictured).

Warrior blueliner Chelsea Burnett evened the score on a one-timer for her first of the season on the power play at 13:44 of the first period.

The score remained at 1-1 until 13:29 of the third period when Kyla Sanders put the home team ahead.

It looked like the game might end that way, but the Warriors didn't let down.

With just a tick over a minute left on the clock and the extra attacker on, freshman Gina Buquet shocked the Badgers from the slot with her third goal of the season and forced overtime.

Lindsey Park kept up her stellar play for the Green n' Gold from there, stopping all four shots she faced in the extra frame to preserve the tie. Park stopped 29 shots on the night.

Becca Ruegsegger stopped 26 for Bucky.

The Badgers came back ready and aggresive on Friday afternoon and halted the Warriors, 6-2.

Brooke Ammerman led the attack with 4 goals. Malee Windmeier and Brianna Decker also scored for the Badgers.

Wayne State got on the board when Katrina Protopapas racked up another power-play goal at 5:16 of the first period. The goal tied the score at one and was also the senior forward's nation-leading seventh extra strength marker of the season.

Freshman Julie Ingratta also scored her third of the year, late in the third period to make it a 4-2 game.

Park started in net again for WSU and stopped 32 shots.

Alannah McCready stopped 18 for UW.

After the Thanksgiving break, Wayne State will try to break out of a four-game winless streak as they continue their six-game road trip with a pair of games at CHA rival Syracuse.

Photo courtesy Wisconsin Athletics