The first period of the first game of the University of Wisconsin women's hockey season wasn't even 15 minutes old when the scramble for the record book began.
The second-ranked Badgers set a team record and tied the NCAA mark with eight goals in the first period — only 11 minutes, 36 seconds of it, to be exact — in a 12-0 thrashing of Lindenwood on Friday at LaBahn Arena.
"They were ready to play," Badgers coach Mark Johnson said.
Were they ever. Wisconsin never scored more than seven goals in a period in its first 25 seasons but started the 26th with a snowman to equal Minnesota's NCAA record set in 2015.
"We had a short skate this morning and you could feel the energy, the excitement," Johnson said. "They've worked hard this summer, had a good training camp and it's time to play."
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It led to another uncompetitive game between Wisconsin (1-0) and Lindenwood (0-3). The Badgers have won all 24 contests between the teams and scored at least 10 goals in four of the last six meetings in the one-sided series.
First-line wings Lacey Eden and Kelly Gorbatenko both scored twice and center Casey O'Brien netted a third-period breakaway goal to go with three assists as Wisconsin set a program record for goals in a season opener. The Badgers defeated Lindenwood 11-0 in 2011.
"We've been practicing for about a month now, and I think everyone was just so excited to have that competition back," Eden said.
What I liked
The first rotation through Wisconsin's four forward lines — with a brief power-play foray thrown in — produced three goals in the game's opening 6:24.
O'Brien drew a penalty on the opening shift and set up Laila Edwards on the ensuing power play. Third-liner Sarah Wozniewicz and fourth-line freshman Maggie Scannell scored on redirections 35 seconds apart, a good sign of being able to score by establishing position in the slot.
• The Badgers killed 74 seconds of a Lions 5-on-3 power play late in the first period. Ava McNaughton made a save on Minnesota transfer Josey Dunne, and Caroline Harvey was in good position to sweep away the rebound from danger.
• Wisconsin didn't seem to take advantage of its superiority after the game was in hand. The Badgers could have scored a lot more than 12 goals but made a few extra passes while playing with an 8-0 lead for the opening half of the second period.
• Gorbatenko made the move from the fourth line at the end of last season to the first line to start her sophomore campaign and didn't look out of place. Her goals came on a redirection in the first period and off a nice feed from Harvey in the third.
"Coming into sophomore year, I know what to expect and I have things to work on and film to go over," Gorbatenko said. "Day by day, just putting in the work to just get better. I enjoy playing hockey so it's fun to work on things and start the season off on a high note."
What I didn't like
There wasn't much to dislike from Wisconsin's big-picture perspective. The sour taste Friday was more from the mismatch of teams that left no doubt about the result, essentially after the Badgers retrieved the puck following a loss on the opening faceoff.
Lindenwood, located in the St. Louis suburbs, is the Badgers' closest nonconference opponent by distance, so the pairing is understandable. But the gap between the teams is vast.
"Tonight, I get uncomfortable just because I've been on the other side of the aisle a few times," Johnson said. "You want to be respectful. You keep talking to your team about creating good habits."
Three stars
No. 3: Casey O'Brien, Wisconsin. The co-captain delivered three assists in the opening period.
No. 2: Lacey Eden, Wisconsin. Two goals and two assists to start things.
No. 1: Kelly Gorbatenko, Wisconsin. Two goals on nine shots as the sophomore made the first line look good on her.
What it means
There's probably not much to take away from a game this uncompetitive. The Badgers got their newcomers a first experience in front of their fans at LaBahn and they started the season by padding some stats.
In the end, they did what they needed to do and had a chance to make some moves like having Edwards play defense ("It looked OK," Johnson said) and little-used goalie Chloe Baker take over for McNaughton to start the third ("Early on in the season, it's nice to get her an opportunity to play," Johnson said).
Samantha Madar's favorite Wisconsin women's hockey photos from the regular season
Wisconsin's Casey O'Brien celebrates after scoring in the third period against Ohio State on Feb. 24 at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey poses for a portrait on Sept. 19, 2023 at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin's Maddi Wheeler scores a goal against St. Cloud State goaltender Jojo Chobak in the second period on Feb. 3 at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin celebrates after defeating Ohio State on Feb. 24 at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin celebrates after defeating Minnesota in overtime Feb. 16 at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin forward Laila Edwards scores a goal against Merrimack in the second period Jan. 5 at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin forward Cassie Hall gains control of the puck against Merrimack in the second period Jan. 6 at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin's Casey O'Brien skates with the puck against St. Cloud State in the first period Feb. 3 at the LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin forward Britta Curl scores a goal against Merrimack in the second period Jan. 5 at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin's Britta Curl, right, and Caroline Harvey celebrate after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime Feb. 3 against St. Cloud State at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin forward Lacey Eden (6) shoots the puck against Minnesota goaltender Skylar Vetter (31) in the second period at the LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wis., Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. SAMANTHA MADAR,STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin celebrates forward Britta Curl scored a goal in the second period against Minnesota-Duluth on Dec. 2, 2023 at LaBahn Arena.
Boston College's Cailin Flynn gets a penalty called on her for roughing Wisconsin's Marianne Picard in the first period Oct. 5, 2023 at LaBahn Arena.
Casey O'Brien had 50 assists and 73 points last season.
Wisconsin's Ava McNaughton blocks a shot in the third period against Ohio State on Feb. 24 at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin forward Lacey Eden celebrates with teammates against Merrimack in the third period Jan. 5 at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin's, from left, Lacey Eden, Caroline Harvey and Cassie Hall celebrate with Kirsten Simms, front, after Eden scored a goal in the second period against Boston College on Oct. 6, 2023 at LaBahn Arena.
Wisconsin's Chayla Edwards, left, celebrates her third-period goal with Britta Curl and Lacey Eden against Boston College on Oct. 5, 2023 at LaBahn Arena.
