The women's hockey team will host North Dakota this Friday and Saturday for its second consecutive home series in the latter half of the season. Wisconsin (10-5-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association, 16-5-1 overall) is rebounding from a tough 3-2 loss to Minnesota-Duluth in overtime last weekend, and North Dakota (4-13-1 WCHA, 7-14-3 overall) is stuck in a four-game losing streak.
No. 4 Wisconsin took the sweep in its first matchup ever against North Dakota in the Nov. 21-22 series with 5-1 and 7-2 victories. Six different Badger scorers contributed to the seven goals scored in game two, demonstrating the depth of the Wisconsin bench. Despite a nine- minute penalty-kill situation in the second period, Wisconsin was able to hold North Dakota to 0-5 on the power play.
North Dakota comes to Wisconsin after falling to Minnesota State in both games of last weekend's series. The Fighting Sioux dropped to seventh place in the WCHA after the 2-0 and 3-0 losses. The team has been unable to score more than two goals a game for seven consecutive games.
Badger goaltender Meghan Horras was identified as the WCHA Defensive Player of the week based on her performance in the Duluth series split last weekend. This recognition is her third this season and third consecutive Player of the Week award for Wisconsin. Horras currently holds a .926 save percentage earning her a rank among the nation's top ten goaltenders.
Wisconsin took the first game in their series last weekend with a 3-0 victory against Duluth. However, they lost the lead in the end of the third period in game two, which led to the overtime loss and a weekend season split.
Wisconsin hopes to learn from their loss to Duluth in the second game of the series and play a full 60-minute game.
\Every loss you take, you've got to learn something from,"" Badger assistant captain Jackie Freisen said. ""You've got to move forward, and know what can we do better, and I think we're in a good position, I hope we will stay in fourth place and just continue from there.""
One key to success, according to head coach Mark Johnson, is to practice good habits on the ice and execute in the game. He also highlights to the necessity of familiarity in close matches; as there are many in the WCHA.
""We have to get comfortable with close games whether it's 2-1 or 1-0,"" Johnson said. ""You have to be comfortable with that and do the things that you learn over the course of the season. If you have good habits and if you're able to execute, generally you'll be successful.""
The teams will face-off at the Kohl Center on Friday and Saturday. The puck drops at 7:05 in both games of the weekend series.
