[media-credit name=’JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]On a senior-laden University of Wisconsin women's hockey team, four freshmen — Meghan Duggan, Kyla Sanders, Jasmine Giles and Emily Kranz — have all contributed to the Badgers' success, but will still be suiting up for the WCHA playoffs for the very first time.

As much as the group has grown and achieved this season (Meghan Duggan and her four WCHA Freshman of the Week honors, especially) the freshmen know Wisconsin will be judged on how it fares in the post-season, not the regular season.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Sanders said of her upcoming first playoff series. "It's the most exciting part of the year. I am nervous, though; I'm not really sure what to expect."

"As a freshman, you don't really know exactly what to expect, but I think that we'll be able to get past the nervousness and be prepared for the games," Kranz added.

Nerves are not uncommon as the most important time of the season gets underway. Fortunately for the freshmen, there's no shortage of places to look for advice on how to deal with the playoff jitters. On a roster where everyone else has been through a national title run, this year's group has heard what the playoffs are all about.

"It's different; it's a whole different game; it's played at a different speed; there are bigger crowds," Giles said. "It's a big deal. That's why it's great to have [upperclassmen] who can get us fired up for it and ready for it."

"It's a big help," Kranz said of having so many experienced teammates. "The seniors and the upperclassmen are there to tell us everything that we need to know in order to be ready."

Both Giles and Duggan play on lines with two upperclassmen, and while Sanders and Kranz team with sophomore Tia Hanson on their line, all four have demonstrated enough maturity on the ice to earn consistent playing time and the respect of their teammates.

"We've all heard stories from the older players about having played in the playoffs before," Kranz said. "So when we're with them, they can tell us what to do."

There doesn't seem to be a lack of confidence among the older players in this year's group of freshmen's ability to translate regular season success into playoff success, and the veterans believe there isn't much to be nervous about.

"We've had important games all year, and [the freshmen] have been in big games throughout their whole lives. They're very mature, very skilled players, and they'll be fine," senior Meagan Mikkelson said. "They've heard all about the Frozen Four last season, and they want to have that experience, too. As seniors, we know what to expect and can help let the freshmen know what's coming and how to react to it."

An outstanding regular-season conference record along with an early clinching of the regular season crown may have been nice for the Badgers, but nothing will compare to the opportunities for success the team will have come postseason. Strong efforts from the freshmen will be necessary for UW to achieve its goals, and despite the nerves that come with their first playoff experience, the youngest members of the squad appear to be up for the challenge.