Annie Pankowski
The 3rd-ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four with a 5-1 win over fifth-ranked Boston University at LaBahn Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Badgers (29-6-4) will play rival Minnesota (32-3-4), in a NCAA Frozen Four semifinal on Friday at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis.
The Badgers scored twice in the first period to jump out to a 2-0 lead. The Badgers are 23-0-1 when leading after the first period this season. Bucky is also 24-1-2 when they are the first to score.
The Badgers, who got two goals from Annie Pankowski, outshot the Terriers 48-21. Pankowski upped her team-leading scoring total to 42 points (20 goals, 22 assists). Wisconsin is 5-0-0 all-time against Boston University. The Badgers have outscored the Terriers 23-3 all-time.
Wisconsin improved to 18-4 in NCAA play. The Badgers advance to their second straight NCAA Frozen Four. They fell to Minnesota 5-3 in the 2014 semifinals.
The Badgers have now advanced to the Frozen Four in eight of the past 10 years. That’s the most of any school in the country over that span.
AUDIO: Coach Mark Johnson on facing Minnesota in Frozen Four semifinals