Press Conference: Wisconsin coaches eye postseason play
By Ben Leadholm | Mar. 14, 2016Women’s Hockey No. 2 Wisconsin (24-3-1 WCHA, 31-3-1 overall) defeated No. 13 Mercyhurst 6-0 in the NCAA quarterfinal round Saturday and clinched a Frozen Four matchup with WCHA rival No. 3 Minnesota (24-3-1, 33-4-1). Head coach Mark Johnson believes the pressure won’t affect his veteran team. “Having been there and having had players that have been in this game last season, other than our three freshmen, I think everybody will be somewhat comfortable under the circumstances, but getting a chance to practice at the Kohl Center and playing a familiar opponent, you know, there is nothing really new other than the magnitude of the game,” Johnson said. “So we will go about our week similar to going about our week for playing Minnesota either here or up in their building and do the things that put us in this position and not try to do things outside of that, make them aware of some things, and then it's going to come down to when they drop the puck, who can execute.” With a matchup of two teams that know each other well, Johnson said UW needs to play to its strengths and execute. “I think for both teams, you know, as we prepare for the game Friday night, what are our strengths and how can we play to those strengths and I'm sure they're probably doing the same kind of things?
