The Big Ten tournament is set for action this weekend when the eight conference teams travel to West Lafayette.
Conference coaches are hoping the field will be wide open, but the regular season has clearly separated a few of the teams from the rest.
Preseason favorite Penn State appears to be at the top of the pile. With two forwards that have tallied 27 goals (11 more than UW as a team totaled), a senior keeper that allows .28 goals per game and an 8-1-1 record that was good enough to take the conference regular season crown, PSU has proven why they should be named tournament favorites.
“I would say Penn State would win it,” said Wisconsin Head Coach Dean Duerst. “They have the offensive power and they have two of the best scorers in the conference, so they’re going to win.”
Badger forward Stephanie Roedler isn’t as sure as Duerst.
“I don’t know if there is any favorites in the Big Ten,” Roedler said.
If the Nittany Lions fail to continue their domination of the regular season, who will be there to take the title and NCAA berth? Simply put–it’s anybody’s for the taking.
“Everybody’s got a chance,” said Duerst. “It’s interesting because Penn State dropped one to Ohio State [last weekend]. Illinois, who on any given day can beat anyone because of their speed, may have a chance.”
Roedler is looking for a team that can play an upset role to take the tournament.
“I’d have to say some underdog like Iowa,” said Roedler. “Because we beat them. [For] someone who we beat to get far is better than someone you lost to [get further].”
Illinois (#3 seed), Iowa (#6), Michigan (#2), Michigan State (#7), Northwestern (#8), Ohio State (#4), Penn State (#1) and Purdue (#5) will kick of the festivities this Thursday at 10 a.m.
Overtime Mania: Wisconsin needed additional minutes Friday to determine the outcome of the contest. It marked the seventh time this season the Badgers have played more than 90 minutes a contest.
“[The amount of overtime games is] just unbelievable,” said Duerst. “It’s a sign of us being in all these games. No team has been able to come out here and really whip us. The games are [based] on such small details sometimes.”
In overtime the Badgers have won once, lost three times and tied three times.
The Game Versus Dame: Wisconsin made a trip to South Bend Sept. 6 and left tying the game in overtime and snapping the Irish’s home game winning streak. The ND memories have become the memoirs of the year.
“I’d have to say ND [is my favorite memory],” said Roedler. “I thought we came out very strong [in the beginning of the season] and we were very confident.”
For senior Kelly Kundert, the Notre Dame experience made Big Ten rivals take notice of the forward.
“[My favorite moment is] Notre Dame. [I had] two goals, and our team was so pumped and so emotional,” said Kundert. “That’s the biggest high of the year.”
Kundert was tabbed as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after notching two goals in the contest against the Irish.
Looking back: For seniors Allie Rogosheske and Kundert, the weekend was a time to reflect on their experiences as Badger athletes and students.
Kundert has already thought about the upcoming events in the weeks before.
“I’ve been thinking about [the last games of the season] a lot lately,” said Kundert. “[The conclusion of the year] is going to be very emotional. This career’s been everything to me.”
With Senior Day having passed, Rogosheske used this past weekend as a wake up call for the actual realization of the inevitable.
“[Senior Day] is always a momentous day,” said Rogosheske. “[The weekend] is a culmination of your whole time here at Wisconsin. You put in your time for the program. It’s been a wonderful experience and a dream come true. I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.”
