After three series against mid- and lower-level conference competition, the Wisconsin women's hockey team faces its biggest test of the year this weekend with a series against undefeated rival Minnesota.
So far this year, the Badgers have been inconsistent over the course of their series, having lost their opening game and won the second contest against each of their opponents.
Senior goaltender Alannah McCready attributed Wisconsin's second-game success to the sense of desperation they feel after losing their first game and trying to avoid a sweep.
She said the team has to find a way to recreate that intensity in their series-openers.
""In the second games we have a lot more urgency,"" McCready said. ""We need to bring how we were playing in the second game to the first game and we'll be just fine.""
McCready attributed the first-game losses to the team needing more time than normal to get used to their opponents' style.
""It's taking us a little bit longer to get cohesive and make sure everyone's working together okay,"" she said.
Interim head coach Tracey DeKeyser attributed the Badgers' early struggles to working out where players will fit into the teams' new structure after major off-season changes.
""We've had a couple of series to figure out lineups and just roles for returners and new players,"" DeKeyser said. ""So I'm excited to see what we can bring into the rink tomorrow.""
One of the most important roles Wisconsin has had to sort out is who will start in goal, where McCready and freshman Becca Reugsegger have traded starts so far this year.
In two games this year, McCready has a 1.50 goals against average and a .946 save percentage, while Reugsegger is averaging 2.02 goals allowed per game and has a .911 save percentage. Although the team has yet to find a consistent starter, DeKeyser said they would not make a schedule for splitting starts between Reugsegger and McCready.
""We don't have a set schedule like that because it's so dependent upon injuries and who's performing and who's prepared,"" she said.
One of the benefits of Wisconsin's schedule so far has been that the Badgers have not had to face top competition like the Gophers so far. Senior forward Jasmine Giles said the team's first three series against North Dakota, Bemidji State and Ohio State have given them an opportunity to shake off the cobwebs, adapt to their young core and get ready for better opponents.
Now that they are back in the groove, Giles said she thinks the team is ready for Minnesota.
""Minnesota's going to be probably our top competition this year,"" she said. ""It's definitely nice to get to play a couple of teams to get used to our systems and get used to each other.""
""You can just tell the team is really coming together,"" Giles added.
For all of Wisconsin's players, their Border Battle rivalry with Minnesota is a major motivating factor this weekend, more so than the Gophers' No. 2 ranking. DeKeyser said the rivalry gets both sides going and will make the series very interesting.
""That's always exciting to play the Gophers and I'm sure they're excited to play us,"" she said. ""It should be a fun weekend.""
