Coming off a sweep of their first series of the season against Bemidji State, the Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team hopes to keep their momentum going against Maine this coming weekend. The puck is set to drop in the Badgers home opener at 7 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday, at LaBahn Arena.
Currently, the Badgers are ranked No. 1 overall, with a 2-0 record to start the season. Their season-opening sweep against Bemidji State was an important conference win for the Badgers.
Notable moments included junior goaltender Ava McNaughton going 12-for-12 on save opportunities in the second game of the series and freshman Adéla Šapovalivová scoring her first career goal. To top it off, sophomore Maggie Scannell scored four goals throughout the weekend.
The Badgers are looking to carry this momentum into the series and continue their domination against the Black Bears. Maine is 0-2 on the season, hunting for their first win.
The Black Bears had a notable close game against the No.10 Quinnipiac Bobcats, but fell short in OT, 4-3. Wisconsin's high-powered offense poses a threat to Maine and gives the Badgers an advantage to test the Black Bears depth.
Some key players to watch for the Badgers are Scannell and senior Kirsten Simms. Simms is a veteran presence who has been prominent this season already. She has contributed early on with a total of three goals and one assist, making her a force to be reckoned with. Scannell, on the other hand, is off to an even hotter start with four goals, leading the team in scoring.
As for the Black Bears, Kendall Sunby currently leads the team with two points. Lilly Fetch is also someone to look out for, as she had eight goals and 15 points last season. They look to get the Black Bears offense started.
Wisconsin is expected to stay hot and use their offence to overpower Maine's defenses. The young season is off to a great start for the Badgers, and against Maine this weekend, they will look to continue their push for back-to-back championships.
