The Wisconsin women's hockey team will look to stay perfect this weekend as they close out the first half of the season with a pair of games against WCHA rival St. Cloud State.
When the Badgers (16-0-2) hit the ice Friday afternoon, the memory of last season will still be fresh in their minds. The Huskies (9-5-2) handed Wisconsin its first loss last year in an October series in St. Cloud.
We've always had problems with St. Cloud, but we're still going strong,"" senior defender Alycia Matthews said. ""It will really boost up our [desire] to go out there and beat them because we only have two more games [before] we're off for the holidays.""
The Huskies, who have been in and out of the national rankings all season, are in the midst of a five-game winning streak, having swept Minnesota State and Bemidji State on consecutive weekends. St. Cloud State also knocked off the defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs earlier in the season.
Forwards Megan McCarthy and Caitlin Hogan lead the Huskies offensively, and while their numbers pale in comparison to those of their Badger counterparts, they are still respectable. McCarthy tops the team with 17 points, recording seven goals and 10 assists this season. Hogan is a solid second with 16.
Special teams play has been essential to Wisconsin's success this season. After scoring three power-play goals in two games against Minnesota State last weekend, the Badger power play remains tops in the country, converting almost 33 percent of its opportunities.
In recent weeks, head coach Mark Johnson has experimented with an all-forward power-play unit, putting juniors Meghan Duggan and Jasmine Giles on the blue line behind sophomore Hilary Knight and seniors Angie Keseley and Erika Lawler.
""Since I've been here, [we'd] never tried an all-forward unit,"" Duggan said. ""It's something great that we've implemented this year. I wouldn't tweak it because I think we're really buzzing with it right now.""
Although Duggan likes the role, she admits there is a little extra pressure involved.
""It really opens up your eyes when you realize you're the last [one] back,"" Duggan said. ""[When] I'm playing at the top of the power play, I've got no one behind me besides [senior goaltender Jessie] Vetter. It gives you a new perspective of what's going on and how safe you need to be with the puck that close to the blue line.""
For Giles, the time on the blue line has been instrumental in her development as a two-way player.
""It's kind of tough to switch from a defensive role to a forward role, but it's actually a lot of fun because you have to get creative with it,"" Giles said. ""You learn so much from playing back there.""
Although the end of the semester will bring a welcome break for the team, the Badgers know what challenges lie ahead in the second half of the season.
""We don't just go home and eat turkey, open presents and hang out with our friends,"" Giles said. ""We still have to maintain our conditioning. You come back and you really see [which] teams do that.""
The Badgers and Huskies close out the season's first semester this weekend at the Kohl Center. Faceoff is set for 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
