If Friday's victory was a statement, then Sunday's win was a pronouncement.

Despite losing their head coach and two best players to the U.S. Olympic team, the midsummer departure of a highly regarded assistant coach, an injury to one of their most talented players and of course the graduation of several standouts -- including goaltender Jessie Vetter -- the reigning NCAA champion University of Wisconsin women's hockey team is still capable of playing like a powerhouse.

Brooke Ammerman scored two goals and added an assist Sunday afternoon as the Badgers rallied from a first-period deficit to throttle Minnesota 5-2 before 1,870 in Western Collegiate Hockey Assocation action at the Kohl Center and complete a sweep of the second-ranked Gophers.

Two days after handing Minnesota (8-2, 6-2 WCHA) its first defeat of the season, Wisconsin (5-3, 5-3) became the first team to sweep the Gophers since Minnesota-Duluth accomplished the feat on Feb. 17-18, 2007.

The achievement is even more impressive considering the Badgers were outshot 40-15, with Becca Ruegsegger making a career-high 38 saves and holding the Gophers scoreless for the final 45-plus minutes.

"The sweep is huge," said Wisconsin interim coach Tracey DeKeyser, who is filling in for Mark Johnson as he prepares the Americans for the Vancouver Olympics in February. "It gives our team a lot of momentum and shows that we are working as a team and really building together. Definitely getting a sweep is a big step for our team."

UW took a 1-0 lead 8 minutes, 46 seconds into the game when junior Mallory Deluce poked home a rebound of an Ammerman end-to-end drive.

Minnesota answered with a pair of goals over the next 1:59, starting with a power-play conversion by Sarah Erickson that was the first of the year against UW in 33 chances. Kelly Blankenship followed up with a goal at 14:14 of the opening stanza for a 2-1 edge.

But Wisconsin fired right back with two goals before the intermission to take a 3-2 lead. Ammerman pounded home the Badgers' second power-play goal of the season on a backhander in the shadow of the crease at 16:29, and Kelly Nash's centering attempt ricocheted into the net off the skate of a Minnesota defender with 31 seconds left.

Ammerman scored on a backhander at 8:52 of the second period for a 4-2 edge, and junior Malee Windmaier added her first goal of hte year with 9:34 remaining in the game.

The Gophers had one last chance to get back in the game but were held scoreless on a 5-on-3 advantage that lasted 1:43 late in the third period.

"That was a momentum shifter when we were able to kill that 5-on-3," DeKeyser said. "It brought energy to the bench as it usually does. Becca (Ruegsegger) had some great saves that kept us in the game."

UW is next in action Friday and Saturday against nonconference foe Robert Morris at the Kohl Center. Faceoff is 2 p.m. for both games.

Related

• UW women's hockey: Rally sends No. 2 Gophers to first loss
• Ruegsegger named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week
• UW women's hockey: Robert Morris stuns No. 6 Badgers

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