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Badgers anxious to end 3 game skid
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Also by Michael Bleach:
- Hockey unable to beat UMD (December 3, 2007)
- Badgers face rival UMD (November 30, 2007)
- Badgers anxious to end 3 game skid (November 20, 2007)
- Four Nations Cup awaits select Badgers (November 7, 2007)
- Badgers fail to earn sweep at home (November 5, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Hockey inconsistent at midpoint (January 22, 2002)
- UW set to take on CC (January 23, 2004)
- Border Battle for WCHA Supremacy (October 24, 2003)
- UW attempts rebound against OSU (September 30, 2005)
- Women's soccer breaks losing streak (October 7, 2001)
by Michael Bleach
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The University of Wisconsin women's hockey team is on a
streak they haven't been on since 2003. Unfortunately, this particular stretch
is a three-game losing skid, a seemingly unknown concept for a team that lost
only one game last season.
The Badgers (9-4-1, 5-4-1 WCHA) dropped a game to Minnesota
two weeks ago and then were swept this past weekend by New Hampshire to forge
the streak.
The team members aren't down on themselves, though, giving
credit to the play of UNH rather than any serious errors of their own.
"We gave it our all and worked really hard," senior Jinelle
Zaugg said. "I wouldn't say that we made many mistakes. [UNH] just took
advantage of their opportunities a bit more than we did."
"I liked the intensity we played with," head coach Mark
Johnson added. "We played hard in both games, we had an opportunity to win both
games, and hopefully we can learn from this and become a better team."
After the two tough tests presented by Minnesota and New
Hampshire, Wisconsin can look forward to a team with a much weaker record this
weekend. The Badgers will travel up to Bemidji, Minn., this Friday to play the
Beavers of Bemidji State.
The Beavers (1-9-2, 0-7-1 WCHA) have struggled this season — finally
posting their first win last weekend — and will have a hard time skating with
the Badgers. In fact, UW is 28-1-1 lifetime against BSU, and Wisconsin has
beaten them in 15 straight contests.
Wisconsin, however, is not treating them differently than
any other opponent.
"We have to work hard against every team," Zaugg said. "They
play in the WCHA, so even if their record isn't that good, they will still be a
challenge."
The key to the upcoming series, according to Johnson, is intensity.
"We played with great intensity this weekend, and I expect
us to play the same way against Bemidji," Johnson said. "We need to play with
the same effort and just capitalize on a few more opportunities."
Some of the opportunities that Johnson is referring to are power
plays. The Badgers went one for 14 against New Hampshire, with the lone goal
coming from freshman Hilary Knight. In the past four games UW has only
converted three of 25 power plays, and for the season they are converting at a
just 20.8 percent clip.
"We didn't do a very good job with the power play," Johnson
said. "The coaches and I need to figure out some units for the power play, who
can create chances and create opportunities. … Our power play will be a point
of emphasis in practice all week."
UW only managed to score two goals in their last two games —
albeit against a very good defense — and will need to improve their shooting
against a strong BSU goaltender, senior Emily Brookshaw.
Brookshaw was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week twice
last year and has set nearly all of BSU's goaltending records.
"[Brookshaw] is a player we have to be aware of," Johnson
said. "She is capable of stopping 50 or 60 shots if she is on. We need to do a
good job of creating chances to beat her."
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