The Wisconsin Selects completed a four-game weekend sweep in Sioux Falls to run their season record to 9-0-1. Their unbeaten record landed them at 6th in the first National Rankings of the season. Playing at the new $72-million-dollar Midco Arena on the campus of Augustana University, Wisconsin out-scored their opponents 16-2 on the weekend. The 3,000-seat arena opened in January 2024 and is home for the Augustana Men’s Division One hockey program.

“It was a beautiful rink and atmosphere to play in,” said Head Coach Emily Bauer, “and overall, a fun weekend of hockey.”

Wisconsin opened play on Friday night with a convincing 5-0 shutout of the North Dakota 16U. Makenna Hutchison earned the shutout victory in net. Five players scored, Addisyn Buesgen, Payton Dykstra, Eleanor Adams, Kayla Dogs and Rachael Beeck, to pace a balanced Selects offense.

The second meeting of the season with the South Dakota 19U was again a close contest with Wisconsin winning 3-0. The teams met a month ago with the Selects squeaking out a 2-1 victory. After a scoreless first period, Wisconsin found the net twice on goals by Reese Duncan and Abby Elliott to take a 2-0 lead into the final period. Beeck added an insurance goal early in the period to complete the scoring. South Dakota net-minder Chloe Vikander was solid, turning in 30 saves, including 16 in the second period. Hutchison was called on for just five saves as the Selects defense smothered South Dakota’s offense.

The nightcap on Saturday, Wisconsin’s Gabi Heuser would get on the scoresheet for all five goals, scoring twice and assisting on the other three. The Selects offense put up 43 shots in a 5-1 win over South Dakota 16U. Beeck continued her strong weekend scoring her third goal with Emmerson Berger and Baylie Schuh also scoring. Reese Duncan and Kayla Dogs each contributed a pair of assists. Greta Woelber stopped nine shots in net for Wisconsin, while Kira Reppe turned away 38 in a losing cause.

The weekend finale was a hard fought 3-1 win over a combined South Dakota team. Heuser gave the Selects a 1-0 lead with a goal in the final minute of the first period. Period two was all South Dakota as they stormed goaltender Greta Woelber with 17 shots, tying the game at 1-1 on a goal by Makenna Tronnes. Wisconsin answered the bell in period three scoring at 15:09 on a redirect goal by Schuh, her second of the weekend. Midway through the period Elliott would get her second on a scramble goal to put Wisconsin up 3-1. Woelber stymied eight third period shots for a game total of 25 saves.

Head Coach Emily Bauer continues to be pleased with her team’s development. “It was a good weekend for us to work on digging deeper into our special teams, and our systems,” said Bauer, now in her third year as head coach. “We challenged the team to play consistently against each opponent and continue to build on the good habits that will make us successful.”

Wisconsin will face a stiff test this weekend when they travel to Chippewa Falls on Sunday to face the Minnesota Ice Cougars.

Dan Bauer is a free-lance writer, retired teacher & hockey coach in Wausau, WI. You can contact him at drbauer13@gmail.com.