After being swept on the road against archrival and top-ranked Minnesota last weekend, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team (6-6-2 WCHA, 10-6-2 overall) would usually be looking to wind down the following weekend against inferior competition. That won't be the case however, as the Badgers must regroup to welcome another rival, the No. 8 ranked North Dakota Fighting Sioux (8-4, 11-5), to La Bahn Arena.
“It’s different styles between Minnesota and North Dakota,” head coach Mark Johnson said. “North Dakota will play a more physical game and will try to get in your face.”
Despite being outscored 6-1 in the Twin Cities this past weekend, UW enters this weekend feeling confident that it can play with the best in the nation. In last Sunday’s 2-0 loss, Wisconsin held the undefeated Gophers to their fewest goals and closest margin of victory this season. The Badgers were led by junior goaltender Alex Rigsby, who turned in a career weekend with 73 saves.
“Even though we were swept I thought we played smart and competed well,” senior defensemen Saige Pacholok said. “As long as we carry it over to this weekend we should be good.”
The Badgers will be running up against a North Dakota team that features an array of offensive talent. The Fighting Sioux rank second in the WCHA in scoring coming into this weekend, averaging over three goals per game. They are led on offense by the twin-sister combo of Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux, who are third and fifth in the conference in scoring respectively. The two seniors have combined for 56 points, which is second only to the nationally leading tandem of Minnesota’s Amanda Kessel and Hannah Brandt.
“We want to focus on defense, but we’re playing to win, not to not lose,” junior forward Madison Packer said. “We’re a quick team up front, so we’ll try to break them down in the back and stop them up front.”
The Fighting Sioux rank second in the league in power play efficiency (20.8%), while the Badgers come in second in killing opponent’s penalty opportunities (87.5%). While power plays may be a stalemate, UW has some opportunity to take advantage of the top-heavy nature of North Dakota’s lines.
“They have two, three, four standout players that you see here and there,” Packer said. “If you look at us all season though we’ve had different players step up, and we need them to keep doing that this weekend.”
Health will be a concern for the Badgers, as the team enters this weekend with key player—freshmen defensemen Courtney Burke and Pacholok—limited to non-contact drills in practice Thursday because of injury. Against Minnesota last weekend, the Badgers played without their top two defensemen and left wing also due to injury.
“When you take three players out of anyone’s lineup, it makes it harder,” Johnson said. “But no one is going to feel sorry for you, it’s something everyone has to deal with, it’s just up to the next kid to step in.”
Games will be played Saturday and Sunday at the La Bahn Arena, with puck scheduled to drop at 2pm and 1pm respectively.
