Although the WCHA boasts plenty of formidable teams, perhaps the biggest challenge for the Wisconsin women’s hockey team this season has been its former self.
Constant comparisons between last year’s team and the current roster have worn down the Badgers, despite being just six games into the season.
During last season’s championship run, the Badgers made winning seem effortless, boasting a 34-2-5 record and dominating opponents every step of the way. Through their first four games in 2008, the Badgers outscored their opponents 28-3.
This season, however, has been anything but easy. In its first six games, UW only outscored its opponents 14-11 and has a 3-3-0 record.
“The team, people keep asking us, comparing us to last year’s program,” Wisconsin head coach Tracey DeKeyser said. “But I’m pretty excited about the direction we’re heading as a young group here.”
Wisconsin’s record may not be indicative of where the team actually stands. All of its victories have been by at least two goals, and two of its losses have been by one point. Nevertheless, the group still has work to do to catch up if it is going to match last year’s team. After Saturday’s game against Ohio State, DeKeyser indicated that some of the preseason goals for the team have been altered.
“After those three series, we’ve kind of figured out what the realistic expectations are for this group and how to rise above the expectations of others,” DeKeyser said.
In addition to the expectations of fans and teammates, a No. 1 ranking in the preseason USA Today/USA Hockey News Poll also heightened what many thought this team could achieve.
“You have these preseason polls that set you up for unrealistic expectations sometimes,” DeKeyser said Saturday after the Ohio State contest. “Not to say that we can’t achieve those, but it’s the added mental stress of always trying to compare yourself to that.”
At Monday’s press conference, DeKeyser commented that the early struggles come as no shock to such a young team.
“We’ve commented on the number of freshmen we have,” DeKeyser said. “With young players, it’s difficult to transition to this level or this style of play so quickly with the pressure that they have on them.”
Last year’s team featured six seniors, in addition to possibly the best player in the country in sophomore Hilary Knight. With Knight and senior Meghan Duggan gone due to Team USA commitments, the 2009-10 Badgers have only four seniors to go with eight freshmen.
One of those freshmen is goaltender Becca Ruegsegger, who has had an up-and-down season. Although she originally shared time with senior Alannah McCready, Ruegsegger started both games in last week’s series split with Ohio State.
“We felt comfortable with her in net for both games, and she has been the most consistent for us right now,” DeKeyser said. “She prepares herself very well for the games, and she comes committed every day to practice.”
The position has not been locked yet, and the team will make a decision on Thursday as to whom will start next week’s game against Minnesota. One thing the team will try to accomplish is winning the first game of the series, something it has failed to do this season.
“Consistency is the main theme for this week, and probably for the next couple weeks to come,” DeKeyser said.
Perhaps even more detrimental to the team than inexperience has been injuries suffered early in the season. Brianna Decker, who was a highly-touted recruit coming into this year, went down in the team’s second game of the season. However, according to DeKeyser, the forward is making progress toward a possible return this season.
“Brianna has been on the ice every day and doing the necessary conditioning drills to get her fitness level where it needs to be,” DeKeyser said. “Hopefully, she’ll be back with us soon, because we could use her.”
