PROVIDENCE FALLS TO WISCONSIN, 3-0
Jana Bugden posts 26 saves for PC

Madison, Wis. - The No. 2 ranked Badgers scored two short-handed goals in the second period on their way to defeating the Friars 3-0 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. With the victory, the Badgers extended their unbeaten streak to eight games, and improve their overall record to 19-1-3. Providence falls to 9-9-3 on the season.

Both squads came out and played defensive hockey in the first stanza, as the Friars out shot the Badgers 6-5. The Badgers' Meghan Duggan (Danvers, Mass.) generated the best scoring chance of the period at the 6:15 mark when she fired a shot from the low slot area, but Providence goaltender Jana Bugden (Corner Brook, Newfoundland) was able to make the save.

The second period featured more scoring chances as each team played more offensively and earned several power-play opportunities. Senior Kristen Gigliotti (Saquoit, N.Y.) looked to get the Friars on the board at the 5:10 mark after she intercepted an errant Badger pass to create a two-on-one situation, but Wisconsin goalie Jessie Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis) blocked the shot with her shoulder and deflected it over the net. Wisconsin was then called for the game's first penalty at 6:31. On the ensuing Friar power-play, Wisconsin freshman Jasmine Giles (Ottawa, Ontario) intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and fed senior forward Sara Bauer, who skated in on a breakaway and beat Bugden at 7:53. Providence then killed off two Badger power-plays and earned a power-play of their own when Mari Pehkonen (Tampere, Finland) was interfered with at her own the blue line at the 15:13 mark. The Friars had several scoring opportunities, including a breakaway chance by senior Sonny Watrous (Albuquerque, N.M,), but Vetter made all the necessary saves to keep the Friars off the board. Wisconsin registered its second short-handed goal of the period at 17:49, when Angie Keseley (St. Louis Park, Minn.) scored an unassisted goal. Wisconsin closed the scoring at 19:11 of the third period as Tia Hanson (Medecine Hat, Wis.) added an empty net goal.

Bugden finished the game with 26 saves for the Friars, and Vetter added 16 to earn the shut-out victory for the Badgers.

The Friars will finish out the weekend series with the No. 2 ranked Badgers Saturday, January 13. The game will again be played in Madison, Wisconsin at the Kohl Center at 3:07 p.m (EST).