University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
23-5-0, 17-5-0
Wisconsin
24-2-2, 18-2-2
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
‘U’ Falls to Top-Ranked Wisconsin Saturday Afternoon
1/31/2026 4:42:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 3-ranked University of Minnesota women's hockey team dropped a 6-1 decision to top-ranked Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon at Ridder Arena, as the Badgers used three-goal first and second periods to earn a series split.
Minnesota visited the penalty box early after skating penalty free in Friday's contest, and Wisconsin capitalized on its first power-play opportunity of the weekend, scoring just six seconds into the advantage and 1:33 into the game.
The Badgers doubled their lead midway through the first period. After five initial saves by Layla Hemp in the same possession, Wisconsin eventually broke through to make it 2-0 at 9:19. Wisconsin added a third goal later in the frame off a defensive-zone turnover and a two-on-zero rush to take a 3-0 lead at 11:21.
The deficit grew to 4-0 early in the second period when the Badgers scored on a one-on-zero rush at 4:26. Wisconsin added two more goals midway through the period at 9:19 and 11:43 to push the lead to 6-0.
Minnesota scored its lone goal of the game at 4:39 of the third period. From the left faceoff circle, Bella Fanale sent a pass across the zone to Chloe Primerano at the right point, and Primerano fired a glove-side shot past the Wisconsin netminder to cut the deficit to 6-1. The teams skated scoreless the rest of the way with Minnesota leading the final frame in shots, 11-6.
With the loss, Minnesota moves to 23-5-0 overall and 17-5-0 in WCHA play. Wisconsin improves to 24-2-2 overall and 18-2-2 in conference action.
Quotable
"Certainly not the result that we were hoping for," said head coach Brad Frost. "To Wisconsin's credit they jumped out to an early lead and put us on our heels. We continued to compete and continued to battle. We won the third [period], but obviously that's not a moral victory, it's just a fact. Again, we have to do more, we have to stay in games earlier against a really good team like that to give ourselves a chance to win at the end."
Notable
- Minnesota and Wisconsin are tied in the all-time series, 60-60-16.
- The Gophers were outshot for the sixth time this season, 35-25.
- Chloe Primerano scored her seventh goal of the season.
- Hannah Clark (18) and Layla Hemp (11) combined for 29 saves.
- Molly Jordan skated in her 100th career game.
Up Next
Minnesota returns to action next weekend in a two-game home-and-home series against St. Thomas on Feb. 6-7. Game one is set for noon CT in St. Paul, Minn., at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena, with game two scheduled for 2 p.m. CT Saturday at Ridder Arena. Both games will be streamed on B1G+.