After two cakewalk series against Union and Robert Morris, the Wisconsin women's hockey team will be thrown into the gauntlet of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association this weekend, as the No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes come to Madison.
The No. 1 Badgers are 4-0-0 on the season and have outscored their opponents 22-1 thus far. With a win or a tie in the first game on Saturday, Wisconsin will break the NCAA women's hockey record for consecutive games unbeaten, which is currently at 30.
However, Ohio State played tough against Wisconsin last season. Although the Badgers won all five games, three games had 3-2 results, along with a 5-2 Wisconsin victory in which Ohio State led 2-0. Wisconsin also knocked Ohio State out of NCAA tournament contention with a 4-0 win in the WCHA semifinals.
The Buckeyes return their leading scorer from last season in senior forward Erin Keys, who was a second-team WCHA selection last season while recording five points against the Badgers. Senior defenseman Tessa Bonhomme, a second-team All-American and first-team WCHA selection was one of the final cuts from the Canadian Olympic team two years ago, while senior defenseman Lisa Chesson was the team's third leading scorer last season.
They have a solid team, and they return a lot of their defensemen from last year's team, and they're all pretty good players,"" Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson said. ""[Bonhomme is] one of the better defensemen in the league. Erin had a breakout year last year point-wise. They have players you have to be concerned with.""
While the Badgers fired 94 shots against Robert Morris last weekend, they scored just six times as they went up against a tough goalie in junior Brianne McLaughlin. Ohio State's junior netminder Liana Bonanno started seven games last season but was impressive against Wisconsin, making 30 saves in her lone start against the Badgers. Scoring could be at a premium this weekend if Bonanno has similar success.
""You can get a lot of shots and not get rewarded. I think as a coach you look at scoring opportunities, you look at 'grade A' chances, and if you're getting a bunch of those and the goalie happens to make saves on a particular night, that's part of our business,"" Johnson said. ""If the goaltender happens to be better than you that night, then you move on and get ready for the next game.""
The Badgers have yet to show they have lost a step from their last two seasons. Senior forward Jinelle Zaugg looms as Wisconsin's biggest threat, while junior forward Angie Keseley has begun this season with five goals and two assists. Wisconsin will look to stave off an Ohio State team seeking revenge after a winless campaign against the Badgers last season.
""The nice thing is that after the weekend, we'll have a better feel about what kind of team we have here,"" Johnson said.
