× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

MINNEAPOLIS — A quick pass and quicker putaway late in the third period carried the top-ranked University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team into the league championship game.

Emily Clark scored on a one-timer with 2:43 remaining in the third period to break a tie and send the Badgers to a 2-1 victory over North Dakota in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Face-Off semifinals on Saturday.

Clark, left alone in front of the net by the Fighting Hawks defense, buried her team-high seventh shot on goal of the game after a backhand pass from Sarah Nurse.

“Sarah put it right in the slot, and I was at the right place at the right time,” Clark said in a TV interview. “I’m definitely happy that went in.”

Of Clark’s 18 goals this season, nine have been game-winners.

The Badgers (30-2-4), who will play Minnesota-Duluth in today’s 2 p.m. championship game, outshot North Dakota 49-19 in extending their unbeaten streak to 19 games.

The Badgers reached the 30-victory mark for the second straight season and for the seventh time in the past 12 seasons.