SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's hockey team fell 4-0 to the top-ranked University of Wisconsin in a hard-fought battle Saturday afternoon at M&T Bank Center.

The game began four-on-four as both teams were assessed pre game protocol violations, but neither side capitalized in the opening two minutes. Less than a minute later, a Union slashing penalty set up Wisconsin to strike first, as Cassie Hall fired a wrist shot from the right circle into the top-left corner to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead.

Wisconsin earned a second power play with 7:49 left in the frame, but Union successfully killed it off. The Garnet Chargers had a power-play opportunity of their own in the final minute and a half of the period but could not convert.

Union opened the second period with 30 seconds remaining on the power play but came up empty. Less than a minute later, Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey created a prime breakaway opportunity but lost control of the puck before getting a shot off. The Garnet Chargers earned another man advantage two and a half minutes into the frame, yet the Badgers held strong.

At 5:21, Wisconsin doubled its lead when Kelly Gorbatenko buried a Harvey feed from the left circle. Union seemed to respond midway through the period, but the would-be goal was waved off for swatting into the net. The Badgers struck again with eight minutes remaining, as Lacey Eden fired a shot from the right side that found the far-left corner for a 3-0 advantage.

The period closed with both teams skating four-on-four as Wisconsin received a penalty for roughing and Union received a penalty for cross-checking, but neither side was able to capitalize.

In the third period, Eden struck early, netting her second goal of the night 40 seconds into the period with a low shot through traffic. Union's penalty kill stood tall the rest of the way, killing off two more penalties to conclude the game.

Junior goaltender Monja Wagner was stellar between the pipes, making 49 saves in the loss. Senior Amanda Quan skated in her 100th career game, while junior Maddie Leaney and sophomore Karianne Engelbert were named to the Ice Breaker All-Tournament Team. Leaney recorded a goal and two assists in Friday's win over Saint Anselm, while Engelbert added a goal and an assist.

Union concludes its stretch of 10 straight home games, opening ECAC play against #9 Clarkson University at 6:00 pm Friday night and #14/13 St. Lawrence on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm.