This weekend marks a series of firsts for the University of Wisconsin's women's hockey team. For the first time in four years, they are playing Dartmouth, and for the first time in school history, the No. 3 Badgers (20-7-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association, 28-8-1 overall) will be taking part in the NCAA tournament.
After ending last season No. 5 and on the outside looking in at a tournament bracket of only four teams (it was recently expanded to eight), this season is especially sweet.
\It's something that you never think will happen to you, something that you always hope for,"" senior defender and captain Carla MacLeod said. ""It's awesome,"" junior goalie Meghan Horras said.
Judging the Badgers' chances against Dartmouth is challenging at best. UW lost two games against Dartmouth in the 2000-01 season, but both teams have changed dramatically. In fact, Wisconsin has only one player that has ever played against Dartmouth-Nicole Uliasz.
""They apparently have a really good first two lines that like to hassle you,"" Horras said. ""They also have a defender with a very good shot.""
Other than that, the Badgers will just attempt to play their usual game, building on the momentum from a terrific WCHA playoffs in which they almost knocked off No. 1 Minnesota.
""We just have to play our game and work hard,"" Horras said. ""We need to continue the way we've played the last six weeks of the season and the playoffs,"" said UW head coach Mark Johnson. ""Discipline is key, as long as we can keep our penalties to three or four a game and stay at five on five hockey, we should be okay.""
The last two weeks have been a roller coaster for the Badgers. After thrilling victories in the first two rounds of the WCHA tournament over St. Cloud State and No. 2 Minnesota Duluth, Wisconsin met up with the rival Golden Gophers on March 6. Carla MacLeod scored two late third-period goals to send the game into overtime, but the Badgers fell just short, losing a heartbreaker 3-2. Even so, momentum is on Wisconsin's side, although that should not breed complacency, according to head coach Johnson.
""A major concern is the delay, it will almost be two weeks between games,"" Johnson said. ""We have to stay sharp."" Motivation should not be a problem MacLeod said, especially for the seniors.
""You never want to end your career on a loss,"" MacLeod said. ""You'd prefer to end on those three wins that will get you a national championship."" The other four seniors on the team will be equally looking forward to that chance.
