Game Coverage
Saturday, Oct. 28 | 4 pm — Ridder Arena
Game Coverage
Sunday, Oct. 29 | 5pm — Ridder Arena
MADISON, Wis. – After sweeping Bemidji State last weekend at LaBahn Arena, the No. 1 Wisconsin women's hockey team hits the road for Minneapolis to take on Minnesota in a Border Battle this Saturday and Sunday. Puck drop for Saturday's contest is set for 4 p.m. while the series wrap-up is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Both games this weekend can be seen on BTN Plus. In addition, both games this weekend can be heard on 100.9 FM as Reid Magnum has the call from Minneapolis. Fans can also follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerWHockey) and check UWBadgers.com following each game for a recap.
1. BIG TIME RIVALRY: Wisconsin and Minnesota are two of the premier programs in the NCAA, having won a combined 10 NCAA titles, 15 WCHA regular-season titles and 13 WCHA tournament crowns. Wisconsin or Minnesota has won the last nine league regular season titles.Â
2. SCORING RUNS DEEP: At least 10 different UW players have scored points in each series played so far this season. Over the weekend, a season-high 14 different Badgers recorded points in Wisconsin's sweep of Bemidji State. Senior Claudia Kepler, junior Mikaela Gardner and sophomores Presley Norby and Abby Roque paced the scoring with three points in the series.
Kepler ranks second in goals with eight scores in 10 games while Roque sits at No. 2 in the rankings for assists, averaging one per game. Roque's 14 total points are also tied for the NCAA scoring lead.
3. INTO THE STORM: This weekend's series against Minnesota marks the beginning of a tough slate for the Badgers as Wisconsin will see action against four of the top 10 teams in the country over the next several weeks. Following the Border Battle in Minneapolis, Wisconsin will host fourth-ranked Ohio State at LaBahn Arena before traveling east for contests against ninth-ranked Cornell and seventh-ranked Northeastern in November. Minnesota Duluth, who is receiving votes in the latest USCHO.Com Poll, will make the trip to Madison in early December to round out the Badgers' challenging stretch.
4. CAPTAIN CLAUDE: Senior Claudia Kepler has been stellar in her first season for the Badgers, leading the team and the NCAA in multiple categories. Kepler's eight goals not only pace the team, but rank second in the country. The senior forward is also tied for the NCAA lead in power-play points with teammate Abby Roque, as the duo each have five power-play points under their belts. Apart from her success on the power play, Kepler has been able to set the tone for UW, as four of her eight goals this year have been UW's first goals of the game. In addition to her "first goals," the co-captain's five first-period goals also pace the country.
5. HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN: This weekend's Border Battle series will be a special one for the five Badgers who call the suburbs of the Twin Cities home. Junior Sophia Shaver, sophomores Presley Norby and Mekenzie Steffen and freshmen Grace Bowlby and Brianna Blesi all grew up and played their prep hockey less than 30 minutes from Ridder Arena.
