Undefeated Wisconsin (2-0), coached by Mark Johnson, will host its first home matchup of the 2015-’16 season against unbeaten Ohio State (2-0) in a two-game series this Saturday and Sunday at LaBahn Arena.
Both the Badgers and the Buckeyes got off to a fast start this past weekend, with the Badgers scoring 13 goals in their two-game sweep over Providence, and Ohio State finding the net eight times in its sweep of Lindenwood.
The Badgers had five separate players contribute a goal in their 5-0 team victory Friday night. Saturday night, last year’s Rookie of the Year and U.S. National Team member Annie Pankowski put on offensive clinic, racking up her third career hat trick and adding an assist for a four-point night, which contributed to an 8-1 Badger victory. The massive performance Saturday and her lone goal Friday earned her WCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Ohio State had its own underclassmen show up big in the box scores this past weekend. Maddy Field, a Canadian-born forward, started her college career off strong with two goals and an assist in Ohio State’s opening series. The strong outing earned the freshman WCHA Rookie of the Week honors.
There’s no doubt both teams have shown early the ability to put the puck in the net, so the high-powered offensive matchup will likely come down to the goaltender performance for each crew. Junior Ann-Renée Desbiens started both games in the net for the Badgers this past weekend and tallied 25 saves and allowed only a single goal in each game. Desbiens was the WCHA Goaltending Champion her freshman year in 2013-’14 and started 37 games for UW last season, compiling 14 shutouts, which tied a UW program record.
The Buckeyes have started redshirt freshman Alex LaMere in the net so far this season. Although she lacks collegiate experience, she has shown a fair level of composure, allowing a reasonable three goals in her first two starts.
Although it appears to be a tough matchup, Ohio State has struggled against Wisconsin in years past, with the Badgers leading the overall series 56-10-6. The Badgers have not lost to Ohio State in LaBahn Arena, with a 6-0 record in their new home venue and 26-5-3 overall record in Madison against the Buckeyes.
While the Badgers are the favorites coming into the weekend, the last time these teams met was last Valentine’s Day, when the Buckeyes broke UW's heart in a tough 4-3 loss. That loss ended Wisconsin’s eight-game win streak and a nine-game unbeaten streak against the Buckeyes. This undoubtedly has left a bad taste in the mouth of the returning Badgers and it’s something they surely haven’t forgotten.
Both games will start at 2 p.m., and Sunday’s matchup with be televised on the Big Ten Network.
