While the men's hockey team, ranked No. 5 in the country, continues to generate excitement on campus, the ladies of the ice deserve equal, if not more, attention. Ranked No. 4 in the nation and coming off a sweep of Ohio State, the women's hockey team looks to improve their record against Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minn., this weekend.
At 15-7-1 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and 22-7-1 overall, the Badgers head to Minnesota to take on the Beavers for a weekend stay.
Bemidji State, 8-20-2 overall, has struggled this season, but is coming off a two game sweep of Minnesota State.
The two teams have already faced off this season back in mid-October, the result of which the Badgers would love to repeat starting tomorrow.
The Badgers swept the Beavers earlier in the season, 8-2 and 4-0. That series was the opener for the Badgers' WCHA campaign. In the series, the Badgers balanced their scoring, with seven different players scoring 12 of the weekend's goals. The overall series against the Beavers stands at 22-1-1, and if that was not enough to keep the Badgers confident against their opponent this weekend, their 9-0-1 all time record in Bemidji should do so.
The Badgers are entering this weekend with the poise of a winning club. They sweept Ohio State 13-5-combining the scores from the two games. The Badgers look to climb the nation's rankings before the WCHA tournament begins on March 3.
The first game against the Buckeyes, a 6-3 victory a week ago, was highlighted by junior Grace Hutchins picking up her sixth and seventh goal.
Junior forward Nikki Burish picked up the power play tie breaker-her 13th of the year-as well as two assists. Also scoring twice was freshman forward Jennie Zaugg, who ended up with four points for the weekend and her second WCHA Player of the Week honor of the season.
In the second game, the Badgers did not disappoint. Wisconsin managed to better their performance from the previous day, featuring senior forward Jackie Friesen's hat trick, defeating the Buckeyes 7-2. Also chipping in was Zaugg again with a goal and an assist, as well as senior defender Nicole Uliasz with the same performance, knocking in the first score of the night's game.
As much as Hutchins, Zaugg and Friesen have contributed to the team's recent success, it has been sophomore forward Sara Bauer this season who has truly led the Badgers. Last year's WCHA Rookie of the Year, Bauer leads the team in scoring with 42 points, 20 goals and 22 assists.
As they skate towards the WCHA tournament, the women could improve their ranking. Maybe then the campus of Madison will pay some attention to the highest ranked Division I Hockey team in the state.
