A shorthanded Wisconsin Selects roster kept their undefeated season going with three wins and a tie at the College Hockey Showcase in Green Bay last weekend. Homecoming weekends around the state left the Selects with a revolving door roster throughout the weekend. The team rode the goaltending duo of Sierra Andert and Kennedy Kohlman to a 3-0-1 record while allowing just two goals in the four games. Each goaltender picked up a shutout as Wisconsin improved their record to 8-0-1.

Selects 3  Idaho Steelheads 1

Opening the weekend with a late Friday night contest against the Idaho Jr. Steelheads, Wisconsin took a 1-0 lead late in period one on a goal by Marley Larson. Reese Duncan led an offensive rush with a pass to Ava Kligora who pulled the defenseman close then fed Larson charging down the right wing. Larson snapped a wrist shot under the glove of Steelhead goaltender Karley Baird. Duncan then pushed the lead to 2-0 three minutes into period two with a well-placed five-hole shot. PaisLee Lystig’s indirect pass in the neutral zone sent Duncan in with a step on the Idaho defenseman. Andert, recorded her second assist of the season on the goal.

On the first shift of the third period, Idaho scored to pull within a goal on a controversial goal by Blakslee Davis-Jeffers. “We felt the play was offside and that it was kicked in,” said head coach Dan Bauer, “but the officials didn’t see it that way.” It led to a highly competitive final frame as Wisconsin hung on to the one goal lead. Brenna Rogers finally provided an insurance goal with a shot from the top of the left-wing circle. Forward Dana Jacobson set the goal up with a great puck battle in the right-wing corner, before sending a perfect pass to Rogers. “Great effort and compete by Dana to make that goal happen,” said Bauer, “she brings that tenacity to every shift.”

For Selects goalie Sierra Andert, it was a twenty-three save effort,  that included huge saves on Idaho’s Willow Rohweder, who dangled her way to the net front on three different occasions, only to be stymied by the Western Wisconsin senior. “21 (Rohweder) was a handful, really nice player, a game changer, but Sierra had all the answers tonight,” admitted Bauer.

Selects 2  Grand Rapids 0

It was a quick turnaround as Wisconsin was back on the ice Saturday morning at eight AM. Fond du Lac sophomore netminder Kennedy Kohlman was pressed into action for the Selects due to an ankle injury that Makenna Hutchison incurred while playing volleyball earlier in the week. Hutchison was off to a great star having allowed just two goals in her first three games. It was a big spot for Kohlman as she stepped in for the 2025 1st Team All-State selection from Hayward.

The game proved to be an even battle remaining scoreless deep into the third period as Kohlman and Grand Rapids goalie Mallory Galloway matched each other save for save. With the clock under seven minutes to play, Wisconsin lined up for a defensive zone face-off. Baylie Schuh won the draw to Liela Reed who rimmed the puck around to the right-wing boards where winger Abby Elliott executed a perfect chip past the defenseman to Schuh who was off to the races on a 2 on 1 with Eleanor Adams. Schuh fired a shot from the top of the circle, then collected the rebound and with her feet below the goal line managed to slip the puck past Galloway. “Great execution by everyone on that play,” noted Bauer, “especially Abby for the chip past the pinching defenseman, and Baylie following the shot to the net.”

With under a minute to play, PaisLee Lystig sealed the win an empty net goal from the hash marks in the defensive zone and Wisconsin earned a hard fought 2-0 win. “No panic in this group,” said Bauer, “found a way, a solid team effort.” Kohlman recorded the shutout with twenty-four saves.

Selects 5  Nashville 0

The homecoming revolving door brought a pair of fresh legs to Saturday afternoons clash with Nashville and it paid almost immediate dividends. Following a scoreless first period, Wisconsin got on top first with a goal by Penny Loeffelholz, playing in her first game of the weekend. The sophomore center went the length of the ice before firing a wrist shot that ricochetted off a defenseman’s stick and past goaltender Sophia Laue. Loeffelholz followed it up on her next shift with her second goal giving the Selects a 2-0 lead. Marley Larson reeled in a tough pass and led an odd man rush with Loeffelholz. Larson led Loeffelholz with a pinpoint pass sending her in alone where she buried a shot over Laue’s glove. Fifty-six seconds later Wisconsin struck again with a pretty passing play from Rogers to Jacobson to Lystig on the backdoor who cut across the net and lifted a backhand for a 3-0 Selects lead. Morgan Kivel made it 4-0 with twenty seconds remaining in the second period on a pass from Ava Kligora.

The four goal second period, including three in a four minute span, busted open a tight game and impressed their head coach. “Best period of hockey we have played so far,” Bauer acknowledged. “The effort, the puck movement, the relentless pressure we put on Nashville was a pleasure to watch. Nashville had no answer. That is the standard of play we want for every game.” Eleanor Adams closed out the scoring in period three with an individual effort to complete the scoring. Andert was perfect, stopping all twenty-four shots. "Sierra had a fantastic weekend, really deserved two shutouts," said Bauer.

Selects 1  South Dakota 1 (OT)

It was another eight AM start time on Sunday as Wisconsin faced off with South Dakota. Kohlman was back in net and answered the early wake-up call with several big saves in the opening period. After Loeffelholz just pushed an early rebound wide for Wisconsin, Kohlman came up with three crucial saves. The first was thwarting a rare 2-0 rush. She then flashed a spectacular glove save on a point-blank shot by Harper Hendricks and later with South Dakota on a powerplay, slid across for a backdoor pad save. “Kennedy kept them off the board early with some huge saves,” said Bauer. “Not the type of scoring chances we want to be giving up.”

Like the Grand Rapids game, it was scoreless heading into the third period. Kohlman had stopped 21 shots and South Dakota’s Rori Quam 17 shots. South Dakota broke the tie at the 2:55 mark when Kinzey Grendler lasered a shot past Kohlman from just inside the left dot. Wisconsin responded with an impressive six-minute push that resulted in a game tying goal. Brenna Rogers got off a quick shot from the right point that was redirected by Morgan Kivel parked right in front of Quam.  

With 2:26 remaining Wisconsin was called for a body check on Loeffelholz and 28 seconds later a trip on Reese Duncan. The Selects penalty kill rose to the occasion, killing off the 5 on 3 and 5 on 4 into in the overtime. Kohlman responded with five saves in the overtime to preserve the 1-1 tie. South Dakota finished with 36 shots and Wisconsin 25. As the Selects will have to wait and see on the return of Hutchison, Kohlman filled in admirably. Along with Andert, the two goalies finished the weekend with a 98.1 save percentage.

“We all feel terrible for Makenna,” said Bauer. “Injuries are part of being an athlete, but nobody deserves to go through what Makenna has endured over the past three years. We hope her recovery will be quick, but most importantly that she is ready to play for Hayward once the WIAA season begins.” Hutchison tore her ACL prior to her sophomore season.

Wisconsin will head to Somerset next Sunday, October 5th to play a doubleheader with the Minnesota Ice Cougars.

Photo Credits: Sonja Adams