March 19, 2006

Box Score

Middleton, Wisc. - Freshman forward Tia Hanson's 9th goal of the season, midway in the second overtime, gave the Wisconsin Badgers a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mercyhurst Saturday night before a standing-room-only crowd of 1,333 at the Capitol Ice Arena. It was the #2-ranked Badgers' only lead of the game. Wisconsin (34-4-1) advances to the Frozen Four next weekend in Minneapolis to play St. Lawrence in the national semifinals. The Saints edged Minnesota-Duluth 1-0 Saturday night. The #7 Lakers ended their season with a 23-8-6 record.

Both teams scored in the first period. The Lakers took a 1-0 lead at 9:06 when junior forward Julia Colizza scored her 20th goal of the season on a shorthanded breakaway. The Lakers' 7th shorthanded marker of the season was assisted by sophomore defender Danielle Ayearst. The Badgers tied at the game on their third power play of the period when junior defender Bobbi-Jo Slusar blasted a slapshot by Mercyhurst sophomore netminder Laura Hosier at 13:51. It was Slusar's 12 goal of the season and 6th on the power play. Neither team scored for the next 76:19 until Hanson ended the game at 10:10 of the second extra session.

The setback was the second successive heart-breaking defeat in as many years for Mercyhurst. The Lakers lost a triple overtime regional at Harvard last March, 5-4. Harvard, like Wisconsin, never led in the affair until the game-winner in OT.

Wisconsin improved to 4-0-1 in overtime games this season and to 5-0 lifetime against the Lakers. All five games in the series have been decided by two-goals-or-less with this being the first overtime game between the teams. Mercyhurst finished the 2005-06 season 0-3-6 in overtime contests.

Mercyhurst outshot Wisconsin 38-35 and held the potent Badger offense to just 1 of 9 with the extra skater. The Lakers finished 0 for 4 with the player advantage.

Hosier made 33 saves while sophomore counterpart Jessie Vetter stopped 37 of 38.

The game marked the finale for senior forward and team captain Samantha Shirley and senior defender and alternate captain Danielle Lansing.