After ending the regular season with a disappointing loss to Ohio State last weekend, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team is eager to begin postseason play.
The Badgers (29-3-2, 23-3-2 WCHA) will host Mankato State (7-25-1, 3-24-1) in the first round of the WCHA tournament this weekend. Finishing the regular season with a record of 23-3-2 in conference, UW earned the top seed in the tournament.
The Mavericks had a more challenging season, winning only three games against conference opponents. But Wisconsin’s head coach Mark Johnson recognizes that with the end of the regular season, past success no longer makes a difference.
“It’s a playoff atmosphere. Everyone is at the starting gate; everyone has the same record, so it’s competition,” Johnson said. “You have to be at a high level, be consistent and eliminate teams, and that is always hard to do.”
Consistency is one thing Wisconsin displayed throughout its season both offensively and defensively. With six Badger players posting more than 20 points, the Mavericks will have to shut down multiple scorers in order to be successful.
Forward Brooke Ammerman is coming off a six-point weekend against Ohio State and was named co-WCHA offensive player of the week Wednesday. The senior leads the team with 41 assists and is tied for third in the nation in points with 68.
In their defensive zone, the Badgers have been equally successful. Sophomore goaltender Alex Rigsby co-leads the nation in save percentage at .950 and has recorded seven shutouts thus far.
With junior defensemen Stefanie McKeough back in the lineup, the depth of Wisconsin’s defense will be tough to break down.
“We have an anchor with Rigsby in the back, so it gives you confidence knowing she is there if you make a mistake,” McKeough said. “We have a lot of depth with the seven of us back there, so anytime one of us is down, the others can get the energy back going.”
McKeough returned to the ice Feb. 12 after suffering an upper body injury but looked like she hadn’t missed a shift. She has scored a goal and assisted on two since returning.
The Mavericks have put their tough regular season behind them and will likely be ready to make a run at defeating their top-ranked opponent.
Entering the playoffs, the Badgers have one big advantage over their opponents: experience. All but four of their players – the freshmen – were a part of last year’s national championship team and know what it takes to be successful.
“Our younger players will be able to watch the older girls and [that] will certainly help to settle them down,” Johnson said. “Nothing can buy that, so it’s going to be important.”
This weekend’s best-of-three series will take place at the Eagle’s Nest in Verona, Wis., an arena that has sold out WCHA playoff games in the past.
“A lot of us really enjoy being out there,” McKeough said. “We have the opportunity to play there in the summer time, so we are familiar with the rink. Obviously we love playing at the Kohl Center, but it’s about the same size rink. We do enjoy it.”
Having put the 4-2 loss against Ohio State behind it, Wisconsin has remained focused on the road ahead during practice. Johnson said a focus on successful power plays and penalty kills this past week will be crucial in this weekend’s games.
“[Players] have to understand that when they are one the ice they have to be able to execute, that’s the big thing being able to do it under pressure,” Johnson said. “We will find out a lot about the team this weekend.”
