The fifth-ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team (18-5-3, 14-5-1 WCHA) will complete its non-conference schedule as it hosts the Purple Eagles of Niagara University (5-19-3, 1-6-1 CHA) in a pair of afternoon games Friday and Saturday at the Kohl Center.

The Badgers need the non-conference series to reestablish their winning ways after having their 10-game unbeaten streak snapped by then-second-ranked Minnesota. Niagara, on the other hand, enters the series after earning a much-needed win against Quinnipiac to snap its six-game losing streak.

The Purple Eagles have struggled this season, compiling just five wins in their first 27 games. Like Wisconsin, Niagara has had to rely on many young players this season, turning to a young roster that features 11 freshmen and four sophomores.

With so many inexperienced players on their roster, the Purple Eagles have experienced some growing pains. However, freshman Katie Gray has fit in nicely. Gray leads the Eagles in goals (6), assists (7), and points (13).

Only two other players have scored in double figures for Niagara; junior Candice Moxley has contributed 6 goals, 5 assists and 11 points, and senior captain Lindsay Vine has posted 5 goals, 7 assists and 12 points.

While the offense has struggled, Niagara has received solid play from freshman net-minder Allison Rutledge. Rutledge has a 2.57 goals-against average, but more indicative of her performance is her .920 save percentage. With the Purple Eagles giving up 30 shots per game, Rutledge has seen plenty of shots and has often kept Niagara in games single-handedly.

For Wisconsin, the most recognizable member of Niagara’s team is head coach Margot Page. In addition to her duties as head coach of the Purple Eagles, Page is the head coach of the Canadian U-22 team, which in the past year has featured four of Wisconsin’s players, including junior captain Carla MacLeod, who captained the U-22 team this past summer.

Wisconsin comes into the weekend’s games potentially on the outside looking in at the Frozen Four. Despite a series split with second-ranked Minnesota, Wisconsin fell one place in both the College Hockey Online Poll and in the Pairwise rankings. Sitting in fifth place in both polls, Wisconsin faces an uphill battle to regain its spot in the top four. Knowing that another loss could end their chances for the WCHA championship and a Frozen Four berth, the Badgers will not take Niagara lightly.

The Badgers will need to find their scoring touch after Minnesota held them to just three goals on 54 shots in the weekend series. Wisconsin freshmen Sara Bauer and Lindsay Macy each had a goal and an assist on the weekend, as the duo continued the stellar play they have exhibited since being paired on the same line together.

With Bauer and Macy carrying much of the offensive load over the past three weekends, the Badgers have won five out of six games. The Badgers will need the offensive firepower of Bauer and Macy to continue down the stretch as the team battles for a Frozen Four berth. Wisconsin will also look for strong performances from the talented upperclassmen to lead the team to wins in the final six games.

Defensively, the Badgers suffered a setback against one of the top offensive teams in the nation, as they gave up 59 shots in the two games against the Gophers. Prior to the series, Wisconsin had allowed an average of just 18 shots per game. The Badger blue-liners hope to return to form against a significantly weaker Purple Eagles offense.

While 59 shots got through the defense against the Gophers, only three found their way into the back of the net, mainly because of the exceptional play of sophomore Meghan Horras. Horras, who earned the WCHA defensive player of the week award, continues to lead the nation with an incredible 1.23 goals-against average and is third in the nation with a .939 save percentage.

The Badgers will not be satisfied with anything short of a sweep, but they also know that they will have to bring their best effort to record two wins. If they can secure the four points this weekend, they will rely on a loss from one of the top four teams to see if they can sneak back into position for the Frozen Four.