Wisc @ UMD - January 10 & 11, 2009

[CrazyDave]

To avoid posting this in either team thread, I decided to start a new one.

UMD leads 2-0 in the first on goals by Irwin and Fridfinnson. Irwin's came just 15 seconds into the game.

I'm a little peeved because the audio web feed is playing UMD women's basketball. Not that I have anything against any other UMD team -- I wish them all the best of luck -- but I want to hear HOCKEY! ;)

Edit: And, yes, I'm a cheapskate... I'm not going to pay for the video feed when there are audio options and live stats available for free. :p

[CrazyDave]

End of the first period. UMD leads 2-0 even though shots are 12-6 in Wisconsin's favor.

Wisconsin is 0-for-3 on the power play so far. UMD has not had a power play opportunity yet.

We talked about the coaching hangover with Minnesota State (who lost two to Bemidji State). Is Wisconsin having the same issue?

[CrazyDave]

Found the Badgers' live blog here. (http://www.uwbadgers.com/blogs/default.aspx?postid=1826) I will say that, as sports blogs go, it is much better than Minnesota's, and interactive too.

[CrazyDave]

Fridfinnson gets her second of the game, this time on the power play, at 12:20 of the second period. 3-0 'Dogs.
From Badger blog:
Centering pass from Tuominen caught Vetter out of position for Fridfinnson to flip it in over Vetter's right blocker.

[CrazyDave]

End of the second. 3-0 UMD lead. Quite a turnaround -- UMD has a 22-21 shot advantage after being down 19-9 earlier in the second period. Part of that was the 4 power plays UMD had, scoring on one of them. Wisconsin is 0-for-5 on the power play.

UMD has also opened up a fairly sizable advantage on faceoff wins with 24 to Wisconsin's 13.

[CrazyDave]

Bulldogs win 4-0. Bye bye Wisconsin's undefeated season.

Jaime Rasmussen adds the exclamation point for UMD with 22 seconds remaining in the game. Wisconsin outshoots UMD 10-6 in the third and has two more power play opportunities, but can't solve Kim Martin. Martin with 31 saves for the 'Dogs.

With this result, Minnesota will finish the weekend as the WCHA leader regardless of Sunday's UMD-UW result. And all teams will have played 16 conference games after Sunday, so there will not be an issue with games in hand.

Meanwhile, UMD will retake 3rd place in the WCHA with 18 points, leapfrogging North Dakota (who had moved ahead on Friday). The Bulldogs still trail Minnesota and Wisconsin by pretty wide margins.

I'm interested in opinions on either side, including the thoughts about being without Coach Johnson on the Badger side. Feedback? Thoughts? Any Gopher fans want to chime in as well? ;)

I'll try to get links to the recaps from both schools posted here, along with the link to the final box score.

[dhmn]

I have to think that UMD's goal in the first 15 seconds set the tone for the game...For whatever reason Vetter seems shaky against UMD.. I don't see her against other teams to really know how she handles the puck and rebounds.. and the 'five hole' but it seems that UMD scores one or two of those every game they play against her.

HUGE for UMD.. Erin Olson stepped back into her old role on the third line (she hadn't really played in any game in the last 2 months of play) and they didn't miss a step with Emmanuelle Blais out until at least after the Gopher series with a leg stress fracture.

One odd thing I noticed tonight.. Erica Lawler couldn't keep her glove on.. nor would she stay on the ice when she lost it.. heading to the bench each time.. does she have some injury (that I haven't read about) where she can't squeeze her hand to keep the glove tight?

[dhmn]

The 'Box Score (http://collegehockeystats.net/0809/boxes/wmndwis1.j10)' from tonight. If I get time and don't see it posted I'll throw up a link to UMD's website story from the game.

[CrazyDave]

The 'Box Score (http://collegehockeystats.net/0809/boxes/wmndwis1.j10)' from tonight. If I get time and don't see it posted I'll throw up a link to UMD's website story from the game.
Thanks dhmn. I just lost track of doing that. I've been watching both teams' web sites and haven't seen a posted game recap yet...

[CrazyDave]

Finally... At least one of the schools got something published...

UMD: NO. 3 BULLDOGS HAVE A 4-0 BLAST AT THE NO. 1 BADGERS EXPENSE (http://www.umdbulldogs.com/teams-womens-hockey.php?id=4095&page=news)

[dhmn]

Finally... At least one of the schools got something published...

UMD: NO. 3 BULLDOGS HAVE A 4-0 BLAST AT THE NO. 1 BADGERS EXPENSE (http://www.umdbulldogs.com/teams-womens-hockey.php?id=4095&page=news)

UMD hosted a basketball doubleheader tonight so that probably delayed it a bit.

[CrazyDave]

UMD hosted a basketball doubleheader tonight so that probably delayed it a bit.
Ummm, yeah... that's why I couldn't get the audio feed of the game and I relied on the Badger blog instead... :eek:

[CrazyDave]

Here's the story (finally) from the Badger side...

Badgers fall to No. 3 Minnesota Duluth to end unbeaten streak (http://www.uwbadgers.com/sport_news/whky/headlines/story.html?sportid=138&storyid=16370)

[WHKY blogger]

Boy what a horrible game to watch on my side.

My concerns going in seem to be magnified and Vetter battling some sort of fever and virus didn't really help much. Tonight would have been one of those nights where a tested backup would have come in handy.

Our defense across the board was terrible, both the D and F helped Vetter very little, especially in transition. Anytime UMD took the puck away it seemed to take us way to long to change direction and begin to attack...
This was especially apparent when the third and forth line players were on the ice.

Kim Martin having a game didn't really pull in our favor offensively. Our shot numbers were there but not too many "quality" attempts. The Greatest One, Knighter and all the rest were on her alot but just couldn't solve her again tonight!!

Tracey and Dan did a good job on the bench keeping the girls positive and in until the very end. However it seemed that nothing was in our favor.

Hopefully the girls got a good nights rest and Vetter is feeling more like herself because today there is another battle and a chance to redeem themselves and avoid the road sweep.

One odd thing I noticed tonight.. EriKa Lawler aka The Greatest One couldn't keep her glove on.. nor would she stay on the ice when she lost it.. heading to the bench each time.. does she have some injury (that I haven't read about) where she can't squeeze her hand to keep the glove tight?

She has had problems keeping her gloves on all year, not really sure what the deal behind it is. Normally she stays out (and even had a goal with one glove) and keeps going with one glove, but for some reason last night she always left soon after the glove hit the ice. We told Hickman following the SCSU series to get her some idiot mittens to help keep those things on, apparently they don't have them for someone her size :p .

She doesn't have any hand/wrist injury that I am aware of, or at least that the team is talking about. Ive been close enough to her in the past week to notice a cast or brace, but I cant say I noticed anything other than her usual attire of sweats, slip on shoes and a hoodie advertising some cape cod establishment or east coast school.

I am pretty sure she wears the smallest gloves made already and this hasn't been an issue in past years so I am not sure what this year she has had so many issues. You would think that they could get custom sized gloves for The Greatest One.

Maybe Mostly Frozen or someone else that's on campus with her knows more.

[ARM]

I am pretty sure she wears the smallest gloves made already and this hasn't been an issue in past years so I am not sure what this year she has had so many issues. You would think that they could get custom sized gloves for The Greatest One.It usually isn't a problem finding small equipment -- it is the Shaq's of the world that need custom.

In the long run, this loss may help as much as hurt Wisconsin. One of the greatest dangers to any team is to have to spend too much time listening to people tell you how great you are. Once you lose, it drives home the point that great or not, there is always somebody out there capable of beating you. And over the years in the case of Wisconsin, nobody has seemed more capable of beating them than UMD. I wish I was smart enough where hockey is concerned to understand why Wisconsin struggles with the 'Dogs, who have a hard time with the Gophers, who can't do anything versus the Badgers. I guess that it's true -- "there's teams for teams and horses for courses."

[WHKY blogger]

It usually isn't a problem finding small equipment -- it is the Shaq's of the world that need custom.

In the long run, this loss may help as much as hurt Wisconsin. One of the greatest dangers to any team is to have to spend too much time listening to people tell you how great you are. Once you lose, it drives home the point that great or not, there is always somebody out there capable of beating you. And over the years in the case of Wisconsin, nobody has seemed more capable of beating them than UMD. I wish I was smart enough where hockey is concerned to understand why Wisconsin struggles with the 'Dogs, who have a hard time with the Gophers, who can't do anything versus the Badgers. I guess that it's true -- "there's teams for teams and horses for courses."

I don't get either how the Trio War works either....



http://www.badgerbeat.com/news/article/id/432000?page=1

Dan Koch on Kim Martin:

"She seems to play well against us, She doesn't give you a lot of second chances off the initial shot, so you need to capitalize on the power play, and we weren't able to do that today."


"The Greatest One" on the loss

"It's definitely something to learn from, It's our first game back from the break, and I think, if anything, it'll motivate us for the second half of the season."


I would much rather the team is learning from a loss now rather than in the playoffs.

[CrazyDave]

Here are some links of interest for keeping track of the game...

Live (Free) Audio from KDAL 610-AM (Duluth station) (http://www.warpradio.com/tuner.asp?id=5230)

UMD Live Stats (http://sports.umdbulldogs.com/WomenHockey/xlive.htm)

Wisconsin Game Day Live Blog (http://www.uwbadgers.com/blogs/default.aspx?postid=1836)

[CrazyDave]

Badger goal by Kelly Nash at 17:56 on the power play after UMD's Trepanier whistled for a hooking call. 1-0 Badgers late first period.
From Badger live blog:
Kelly Nash slapped it in after Martin thought she covered it up.

[CrazyDave]

End of the first period. 1-0 Wisconsin.

UMD took the early shot lead, Wisconsin came back, and UMD got a couple shots late to take a 12-10 advantage.

Wisconsin is 1-2 on the power play with Nash's goal. UMD is 0-1 so far and in the middle of their second power play (UW's Rachel Bible whistled for body checking at 19:04).

[CrazyDave]

Bulldogs tie it up 1-1 at 9:21 of the second period. Elin Holmlov puts the puck past Vetter in a 4-on-4 even-strength situation.

Saara Tuominen gets her 100th point as a Bulldog with an assist on the goal.