The No. 2 Wisconsin women's hockey team travels to Minnesota to challenge St. Cloud State in a series Jan. 23 and 24, and will look to continue the success of their powerful and quick-striking offense.
During the Badgers' recent series against North Dakota at home, the UW offense jumped on the Sioux early and often. Wisconsin sophomore forward Hilary Knight scored 38 seconds into the first game, and the team scored a pair of goals within one minute twice during the second game.
So far this season, the team has outscored its opponents 122-30 and is averaging more than five goals per game.
We have some great, tenacious goal scorers,"" junior forward Meghan Duggan said. ""I think if we can continue that and just jump out on teams early and set the pace from the beginning of the game, we should be successful.""
Duggan has been a key part of that offensive success, posting three goals and two assists against North Dakota. She was also one of seven different goal scorers in Saturday's contest with the Sioux.
Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson said that a balanced offensive attack has given the team confidence and added to the threat they pose.
""They're trying to improve on a daily basis, and when they see results on a weekend, it gives them more confidence,"" he said. ""It is a good pattern to be in.""
Wisconsin will try to recreate the success it had against St. Cloud State in December, the last time the teams faced off. When the Badgers took on the Huskies at the Kohl Center Dec. 5 and 6, they came away with 7-0 and 6-2 wins to end the first half of the season.
Johnson, however, said it will be harder this time around because of the road environment and St. Cloud's confidence coming off a sweep of Ohio State.
""We're going to have to have everybody playing at a real high level, be competitive,"" Johnson said.
The Badgers will need to be a disciplined team against St. Cloud, and must avoid looking ahead to their upcoming series against Minnesota Feb. 7 and 8. The top-ranked Gophers took over the No. 1 spot in national rankings as well as the lead in WCHA standings after the Badgers' loss to Minnesota Duluth Jan. 10.
Duggan admitted that the rivalry between the two schools, not to mention the fact they are fighting for the top spot in the country, could make it hard to concentrate against St. Cloud Friday and Saturday and Ohio State a week later.
""We're clearly rivals and I think everyone gets hyped up for that series,"" she said. ""But I think the team is pretty grounded in being able to take one game at a time.""
Johnson said the team shouldn't have that problem because, ""we don't talk about it until they [Minnesota] become our next opponent.""
""It doesn't help with getting organized for Friday night [against St. Cloud],"" he said.
The Badgers face off against St. Cloud State at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.
