The Wisconsin women’s hockey team will play its home opening series Friday and Saturday, as the Robert Morris Colonials head to Madison to face the 2-0-0 Badgers.
Two records could be achieved this weekend, both relating to the 28-game unbeaten streak the Badgers currently hold. Friday, Wisconsin can tie the school record 29-game streak the men’s basketball team set from 1911-’13. With wins or ties in the two games against the Colonials, the Badgers will match New Hampshire’s record it set in 2005-’06, the longest ever NCAA women’s hockey unbeaten streak.
Last weekend, Wisconsin played at Union, defeating the Dutchwomen 5-0 and 11-0 in the season opening series.
Competition-wise, the Badgers will face a similar test against Robert Morris, which went 11-22-2 last season.
Robert Morris opened its season Tuesday at Mercyhurst, the nation’s second ranked team. The Colonials kept it close, but eventually lost 3-0, with Mercyhurst’s last goal coming on an empty netter in the final minute.
Wisconsin last year defeated Robert Morris 10-0 and 5-0 on the road. The Badgers will look for a similar performance in front of its home crowd, as it attempts to put the Colonials away early in each game.
Robert Morris, a young team with just one senior, features a solid junior class, which includes its active career leading scorer, forward Morgan Beikirch. Forward Kristin Miles is another threat from the third-year class.
Junior goaltender Brianne McLaughlin played exceptionally well in the loss against Mercyhurst, making 39 saves in the loss. McLaughlin will face another rigorous test from Wisconsin, which fired 99 shots on goal in its two wins at Union.
Last weekend, the Badgers started both its active goaltenders, junior Jessie Vetter and sophomore Alannah McCready. However, head coach Mark Johnson claims that this will not be the case for the entire season.
“I think [Vetter] is in a position right now to carry the load a little bit here in the early part of the season,” he said.
For the first time in Vetter’s career, there is no proven insurance if she suffers an injury. With the graduation of Christine Dufour, expect Johnson to give McCready sporadic playing time throughout the season to get her accustomed to NCAA play.
The Badgers under Johnson have seen success against weaker programs like Robert Morris. Expect Wisconsin at weekend’s end to be tied for the nation’s longest-ever unbeaten streak in women’s college hockey.
Both games begin at 7 p.m., and are webcast live on uwbadgers.com.
