The Wisconsin women's hockey team can take comfort in knowing that when it faces its toughest competition this season, sophomore forward Meghan Duggan has proven she can score against the elite.
Duggan, who as a freshman was second on the team in points with 52, contributed in some of Wisconsin's biggest games last season. The Massachusetts native scored goals in four of the five games against Minnesota and proceeded to have a successful postseason.
The rivalry-ruler that is Duggan started playing on the team's second line last season with her former roommate from prep school, junior forward Erika Lawler. Shortly after the New Year, she moved up to the first line to play with current senior forward Jinelle Zaugg and former Badger great Sara Bauer.
It was just something that coach decided and thought it would be better for the team and it ended up working out,"" Duggan explained of head coach Mark Johnson's decision.
""I think she helped our line a lot ... I really love playing with her,"" Zaugg said.
With Bauer gone, freshman forward Mallory Deluce has taken over the center position on that line, and the freshman recognizes the contributions that Duggan makes.
""She can set you up so well and she can make really good plays and she has a really good shot,"" Deluce said.
Duggan could not have possibly predicted the success that she experienced last season. Besides winning a national title and being the team's second leading scorer, Duggan was awarded the WCHA's Rookie of the Week award three straight times. Overall, she brought home five weekly awards, more than any Badger has ever garnered in one season.
""I wanted to just get better as a player,"" Duggan said. ""I knew I was going to be coached by great coaches and play with great players and hopefully fit in with the team.""
Duggan never thought of coming to the Midwest for school before Lawler, a year older than Duggan, began looking at Wisconsin. Duggan's decision to come to Madison paid off for the Badgers down the stretch last season.
In the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals, Duggan almost singlehandedly beat St. Lawrence. The rookie scored two goals while notching two assists against the Saints, propelling Wisconsin to the national championship game and an eventual second consecutive NCAA title.
""We wanted to go into [the semifinals] and just give it to them and we started off strong,"" she explained. ""Our line was kind of buzzing around and I think we just connected really well that game.""
In order to win a third-straight national title, the Badgers will need a similar performance from Duggan this season, along with a team-wide effort to fill the void left by the departure of players such as Bauer.
""Every year it's a new team and new line combos and everyone has to step up a little bit to try and replace some of [the players] that we lost,"" Duggan said.
