MADISON, WIS. – Despite a career-high 51 saves from senior goaltender Paula Voorheis and a season-high 24 blocked shots as a team, the women’s hockey team couldn’t get a goal on No. 1 Wisconsin and ultimately fell, 3-0, on Friday night in Madison.
The Badgers – who entered the game with the third-best offense in the nation – carried the majority of the play in the early going but Voorheis proved early on in the game to be a steady presence in net.
It was about six minutes into the game that Voorheis made a big chest save on shot from Abby Roque from the hash marks and then near the midpoint of the frame, Voorheis made a save at the left post on a shot from Sophie Shaver and then slid over to stop a rebound bid from Baylee Wellhausen at the top of the crease.
The Big Red finally began to get its skating legs and went on to earn two power plays in the period and get off five shots on goal, including a backhand from senior Hanna Bunton on the goal line that looked destined for a juicy rebound but Nicole Cece smothered the loose puck.
Cornell generated a quality scoring chance just a minute into the second period when freshman Amy Curlew skated through the low slot and sent a backhand towards Cece’s left pad. The puck fell to senior co-captain Kaitlin Doering but the follow-up shot was pushed away and the game remained scoreless.
Voorheis continued to stand tall between the pipes for the Big Red, though. First she saw a hard shot in from the dots and did well not to give up a rebound. Just past the halfway point of the game, Presley Norby tried to finish a feed right in the crease only to have Voorheis stuff her attempt. A few minutes later she tracked the play and made a save through traffic on a one-timer from Annie Pankowski. Finally, with less than 15 seconds to go in the period, Voorheis shut down a Badger two-on-none with great positioning to take away shooting angles.
The senior finished the second period with 17 saves for a two period total of 28 and carried her stellar play into the third period where she made 23 saves.
Despite Voorheis’ best efforts and 24 blocked shots from the Big Red, the Badgers eventually broke the deadlock 8:46 into the third period when Wellhausen was able to bat home a puck that was loose at the left post.
Sarah Nurse made it 2-0 with just under five minutes to go in the third period when she skated down the left wing, cut across the goal mouth and slipped a puck into the net. Pankowski iced the win with an empty-net goal in the final minute of play.
Voorheis’ 51 saves are the most in a game for the Big Red since Amanda Mazzotta made 61 saves against Minnesota-Duluth in 2010.
Wisconsin finished with 53 shots to Cornell’s 11, with Cece earning all 11 for the shutout. Senior Sydney Smith and junior Erin O’Connor each blocked five shots.
Cornell (6-3-1, 4-2-1 ECAC Hockey) and Wisconsin (13-1-1, 10-1-1 WCHA) will do battle again tomorrow night at 9 p.m. ET at LaBahn Arena.
