While most of the Badgers will be off this weekend, four women's hockey players will head to Europe for the Four Nations Cup from Nov. 7 to 11.
U.S. head coach Jackie Barto of Ohio State selected senior forward Jinelle Zaugg, junior goalie Jessie Vetter, junior forward Erika Lawler and sophomore forward Meghan Duggan to participate in the tournament which takes place this year in Sweden.
We have a good program here. We have a lot of good players so I think it says a lot about our program,"" Zaugg said about the four being chosen from Wisconsin.
The Four Nations Cup presents a chance for the Badgers to represent their country. The Winter Olympics only offer players that chance once every four years, while other international competitions, like the Four Nations Cup, allows players to play for their country annually.
""It's a great honor to play for your country and [Lawler and I] have had a couple experiences with that and it's amazing just to come together and put that jersey on and play for your country,"" Duggan said.
""I love the team there. We have so much fun together,"" Lawler said.
After losing a tough 3-2 game Saturday to Minnesota, the Badgers will join Golden Gopher junior forward Gigi Marvin on the U.S. team.
""You hate to lose to the Gophers, but they're a good team and we have a lot of fun with the girls when we play on the U.S. team with them,"" Vetter said.
Last year in the Four Nations Cup, the United States, while under head coach Mark Johnson, lost to Canada in the finals. The Badgers do not have high expectations and are more focused on staying relaxed and having a good time in Sweden.
""I don't really like to set individual goals. I think that you have to go out there and maybe not get so nervous and kind of be more comfortable with everything,"" Lawler said.
""I think obviously our team wants to do well and compete but I'm just going to enjoy the experience and have a lot of fun with it,"" Vetter said.
""The competition will be good for them,"" Johnson said. ""I hope they'll have success [and] they enjoy the experience.""
Former Wisconsin players Molly Engstrom and Kerry Weiland will also join the U.S. team in Sweden.
The United States kicks off play Nov. 7 against Sweden. They play Canada the next day, then play Finland Nov. 10. The medal round games occur Nov. 12.
The search for consistency
While it is ranked second in the nation, the Badgers have showed some signs of missing its leaders from last season including forward Sara Bauer and defensemen Meaghan Mikkelson and Bobbi-Jo Slusar.
The Badgers struggled against Minnesota in each game Nov. 2 and 3. In the first game, Wisconsin broke out with a 3-0 first period lead, but was actually outplayed in that period. Wisconsin was bailed out by the play of Vetter, who made 22 saves for her fifth shutout of the season.
""To be honest, yesterday we really didn't have a good game either. We just kinda came out on top of them. Yesterday we just kinda got lucky with the three goals we got and no goals against. Coach calls it 'fools' goals,'"" Lawler said after Saturday's loss.
Zaugg acknowledged that the Badgers have struggled all season in the first period and feels that is a big hole for Wisconsin right now.
""Our first period [we've been] struggling all season,"" she said. ""We want to be able to jump out and jump on teams instead of get behind and have to come back.""
With the week off, Johnson hopes to be able to work on the team's fundamentals to avoid these struggles against top-ranked New Hampshire.
""It's a good opportunity to continue the progression so you can work them and you can work them pretty firmly. We'll give them three days off next Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We'll be able to work on some things that we normally can't,"" he said.
