MANKATO, Minn. – Thanks to a balanced attack and senior Ann-Renee Desbiens' 42nd career shutout, the No. 1 Wisconsin women's hockey team earned a 3-0 victory over Minnesota State on Friday at the Verizon Wireless Center.

Desbiens stopped all 14 shots she faced from the Mavericks (2-6-1, 0-6-1-0 WCHA) to earn her fourth shutout of the season for the Badgers (8-0-1, 6-0-1-1 WCHA). The La Malbaie, Quebec, native is now one shutout away from matching Minnesota's Noora Raty's NCAA ice hockey record, regardless of gender or division, of 43 career blank slates.

"It's been huge to have a consistent goaltender in net," associate head coach Dan Koch said. "We've been fortunate over the years to have great goaltending. It gives all of our players a lot of confidence with the puck, knowing that if something should happen, that Ann is back there to make the stop."

"I think it shows how consistent we've been as a team the past four years and how we still are this year," Desbiens said about nearing the NCAA record. "Even though we have a younger team this year, our players are still able to clear the defensive zone, and that's something that's really important to us."

Seniors Jenny Ryan, Sarah Nurse and sophomore Sophia Shaver all lit the lamp for UW in the victory as the Badgers dominated in possession despite being without forwards Annie Pankowski, who is currently with the U.S. National Team, and Sam Cogan.  In addition, captain Sydney McKibbon recorded two assists in the triumph.

"When we got out there, we definitely were the ones that wanted to set the pace," Nurse said. "We wanted them to play up to our speed, and I think that we were able to accomplish that today. We only had nine forwards so it was a bit of a short bench, but I think at the end of the day we got things done."

"I like the way that we came out and started," Koch said. "Early on, we passed up some opportunities to get the puck to the net, but we made a change in the second period and we started to do that. Overall, we're very pleased with how we started and how we adapted as the game went on."

Ryan put the Badgers on the board early in the first period, firing a rocket from the point into the net for her third goal of the year. It also marked Ryan's second power-play strike, which is tied for the team lead.

Nurse doubled the UW four minutes into the second period as she took a feed from Sydney McKibbon and slotted the puck home. It marked Nurse's team-leading ninth goal of the season and her sixth goal in the last three games.

"Syd made a great pass," Nurse said. "I'm very fortunate to play with Syd and Presley (Norby). I think Syd just knows where I am on the ice and I know where she's going to put the puck, so she made a great pass to me and I was able to get a goal.  I know her mannerisms and I know what she likes to do on the ice, so that's definitely very beneficial for us looking forward."

Less than two minutes later, Shaver recorded her third goal of the season thanks to a great pass from Abby Roque to give UW a 3-0 advantage.

UW outshot Minnesota State 37-14 as the Badgers have now outshot their opponents in each of their nine games this year. UW was 1-for-3 on the power play, while killing all three of its penalties.

The two teams wrap up their series on Saturday with a 2 p.m. clash in Mankato.