While the rest of the University of Wisconsin had the past month off, the Wisconsin women's hockey team has been busy putting the hurt on their competition.
The Lady Badgers have stormed through the month of January, going undefeated three series in a row, heading into this weekend's matchups against Boston College and Providence.
The Badgers started off the month by facing the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs in Duluth. The Badgers skated into Duluth and swept then No. 1 UMD. The following weekend the Lady Badgers hosted the University of Findlay Oilers. The U of F went back home to Ohio, with two losses after facing the Badgers.
UW went on another trip to the state of Minnesota, this time facing off with Minnesota State-Mankato. The Badgers won both games, due in large part to the stellar goal play of junior Jackie MacMillan and a stingy defense. The Badgers have not yielded a goal in the last 200 minutes of ice time.
Junior forward Kendra Antony explained that the winning streak was a matter of things coming together at the right time.
\Everyone is on the same page. I think we are playing as a real team unit,"" Antony said.
When asked about the upcoming series against Boston College (4-13-3), which has struggled this year, Antony said, ""We have not lost our focus with BC, simply because of their record. Earlier in the year, we lost to some teams we should have beaten. We do not want that to happen this weekend.""
Antony also mentioned that the line consisting of herself, sophomore Steph Millar, and sophomore Meghan Hunter would be an ""offensive threat."" The trio will look to score early and often.
The team shares Antony's eagerness to go out East and play both BC and Providence.
Hunter said that the team is, ""playing with a lot of confidence right now."" She added that there is an extra incentive involved when playing East Coast schools.
""We like to remind [East Coast schools] that the West has taken over. We want to go out and beat Providence which is a very good team,"" Hunter said.
The only thing that has not gone the Badgers way lately was Head Coach Trina Bourget's medical leave. Since Bourget's leave, assistant coaches Tracey Cornell and Dan Koch have taken over the responsibilities of Head Coach.
Cornell said that Wisconsin cannot overlook a team like Boston College.
""On paper they may not be doing as well, but they certainly have some players who are very dangerous.""
Cornell also made sure to point out how good of a team Providence College is.
""We know what we are getting into with Providence and that is a hockey game with two very good teams,"" she said.
Providence College is on quite a roll itself, having won four in a row and going unbeaten in their last six contests.
The Badgers will look to the strong offensive line of Hunter, Millar and Antony to take the lead early in both games. The strong goal tending of Jackie MacMillan should keep the Badgers in the games if their offense sputters at all.
