It was close, but not close enough as the Wisconsin women’s hockey team dropped a 2-0 contest to No. 5 New Hampshire at the Kohl Center Friday night.

In a defensive struggle, the Badgers out-shot the Wildcats, 6-4, in the first period. Karen Rickard had the first quality chance for UW when Molly Engstrom hit the streaking forward behind the UNH defense. The junior skated in alone on Wildcat goaltender Jen Huggon but missed the net with her shot.

Just past the midway point of the second period, the Badgers put pressure on UNH with Meghan Hunter getting stopped on a two-on-one. Then Sis Paulsen was stopped on an open shot from the right face-off circle shortly after Hunter was stopped. The puck ended up near the blue line, where a diving Lindsay Hansen beat a UW defender and passed the puck to Allison Edgar. Edgar fed Chandy Kaip to send the Wildcats in on a three-on-one. UW’s Jackie MacMillan stopped Kaip’s first shot, but Kaip got to the rebound and scored her ninth of the season at 11:01.

After the Wildcats controlled much of the second period and out-shot the Badgers, 7-2, Wisconsin took control in the third period. A three-shot barrage started with a point shot by Engstrom and ended after a scramble in front and a whistle. The last of the three UW shots bounced off the post before the puck was pushed out with the hand of a UNH defender.

The Badgers continued their pressure, finishing the period with a 12-6 advantage in shots, but it was the Wildcats that found the net for the critical second goal. Kaip caused a turnover at the UW blue line and skated in on MacMillan. Hansen skated to the right of the goaltender and redirected Kaip’s pass inside the near post and behind the senior netminder for the 2-0 lead. The score came at 14:25 of the third period.

Both teams went scoreless on the power play, with the Badgers unsuccessful on four attempts and the Wildcats failing on three opportunities.

MacMillan stopped 15 shots in the loss and fell to 12-6-4. Huggon made 20 saves to improve to 20-4-1.

After such a close battle Friday night, UW was able to come back stronger Saturday night, but the two teams would eventually play to a 1-1 tie. Both goals were scored in the first period as New Hampshire player Chandy Kaip knocked in the first goal of the game. Kendra Antony responded for the Badgers at the end of the first period with the tying goal.

UW outshot UNH, 29-25, but was unable to take advantage of the number. The tie moved the Badgers to 12-6-5 going into next weekend’s play against Minnesota State.

-compiled from staff reports