The University of Wisconsin - Superior women’s hockey team took their stingy defense into Fond Du Lac, WI this weekend and continued the trend of allowing few goals as they shut out Marian University 6-0 Friday night and 2-0 Saturday afternoon.

Friday night was an offensive night for the ‘Jackets as they started scoring early and did not look back.

After a Sabers penalty, senior Brittany Bembeneck took a feed from senior Jasmine Pollock and blasted the puck by Sabers goalie, and former Yellowjacket, Kaytlin Ruzicka giving the ‘Jackets the early 1-0 lead.

Bembeneck’s goal was the first of the year for her and the 2nd of her career. Junior Teagan Cassan picked up the 2nd assist.

The ‘Jackets were not done there however as senior Jodi Holland took advantage of another Sabers penalty and buried her team leading 8th goal past Ruzicka. Senior Brittany Dunkel and junior Shana Katz picked up the helpers.

Only 5:36 later, the ‘Jackets tickled the twine again as Cassan took a pass from sophomore Torri Shelafoe to make it a 3-0 game.

After an eventful 1st period for the ‘Jackets, the 2nd was no different. Only 6:14 into the frame, freshman Kaiti Graham scored her first career NCAA goal with the assists going to Cassan and Shelafoe.

Later in the period Pollock and Katz scored to give the ‘Jackets a 6-0 lead after only 2 periods.  Ruzicka’s night was done after the 2nd period as Melissa Calder went in for the 3rd and shut down the ‘Jackets but it was too late as senior Amie Meyer turned away all 8 shots to record her 3rd shutout of the year.

Bembeneck, Pollock, Holland, Dunkel, Katz, and Shelafoe all had 2 point games while Cassan has 3.

Saturday afternoon’s game seemed to be going the same way as Friday night’s affair as only 5:23 into the 1st period, Holland took a pass from Katz and scored her 9th goal of the year.

With the 1-0 lead the ‘Jackets continued a shooting frenzy toward the Sabers goal but Calder was up for the task as she turned aside 34 shots in the 1st two periods.

Calder’s streak of saves was broken 3:24 into the 3rd period as freshman Wierschem added a much needed insurance goal for the ‘Jackets to give them the 2-0 lead.

Like most of the year, that was all the ‘Jackets needed as senior Melissa Kunzelman was rock solid and saved all 13 pucks her way solidifying her 5th shutout of the year. The win moves her record to 9-7-2 and she is now leading the nation in save percentage (.945%).  

The win also gives the ‘Jackets a 7-5-2 conference record and an overall record of 13-8-2. With the 3-point weekend, Holland now has 17 points on the season and leads the team.

The ‘Jackets now wait for the UW-Eau Claire Bluegolds to come into town Friday night as they play their final 2 regular season games of the season before playoffs. The weekend series will also feature Senior night as the ‘Jackets will be graduating 9 seniors this year. Game time Friday night will be 7p.m. at Wessman Arena.