MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — In the small world of college women’s hockey that has been dominated by handful of schools in the 2½ decades since the NCAA began sponsoring the sport, Wisconsin has come the closest to conquering it. This bunch of Badgers might be the best of all.

If Badgers fans hadn’t invaded Ridder Arena in numbers, maybe there’d have been loud pushback over some whistles, but not this time.

MINNEAPOLIS – Wisconsin takes another step in its pursuit of an eighth NCAA women’s hockey championship at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a Frozen Four semifinal against Minnesota at the Gophers’ Ridder Arena.