Game One Coverage
Friday, Jan. 22 | 3:07 p.m. - St. Cloud, Minnesota
Game Two Coverage
Saturday, Jan. 23 | 2:07 p.m. - St. Cloud, Minnesota
MADISON, Wis.— After jumping back to the No. 1 spot in the national polls, the Wisconsin women's hockey team will take on St. Cloud State this weekend in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The puck drops on Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. Both games will be streamed on FloHockey.
Here are five things to know before the teams face off.
1. LAST TIME OUT: This past weekend then-ranked No. 2 Wisconsin hosted No. 1 Minnesota for the first Border Battle of the season. The Badgers swept the Golden Gophers, notching a 5-0 shutout in Friday's game and a 6-3 victory in Saturday's game.
Daryl Watts led the team with three goals and three assists.
Brette Pettet put up two goals on Saturday,
Britta Curl scored one in both games and three other Badgers scored over the weekend. Goaltender
Kennedy Blair had a perfect 30 saves on Friday and recorded 23 on Saturday.
2. BACK IN BUSINESS: After sweeping Minnesota over the weekend, Wisconsin has reclaimed its' No. 1 ranking in the USCHO Division I Poll, receiving 14 of the 15 first place votes. The Badgers also reclaimed the top spot in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, receiving all 19 first-place votes. The Badgers fell to No. 2 last week after splitting a series against Ohio State, moving Minnesota to No. 1. The team has also moved back into first in the WCHA standings.
3. AWARD-WINNING WEEKEND: Both
Grace Bowlby and
Daryl Watts earned WCHA Player of the Week in their respective positions. This is Bowlby's second time earning the honor this season as she posted a +5 plus/minus rating and was tied for the league lead in defensemen scoring with two points. Watts earned the honor after scoring three goals and a league-best six points against Minnesota.
4. ABOUT THE HUSKIES: Wisconsin holds a 25 game win-streak against St. Cloud State, dating back to February 22, 2015. They have also won 47 of the last 48 games against St. Cloud State and hold a 20 game win streak at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. Against the Huskies, Badgers
Britta Curl,
Sophie Shirley and
Daryl Watts have put up stellar performances on the ice. In the last 10 games against the Huskies, Curl has scored 11 goals and notched 15 points while Shirley has eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points. Watts posted 4 goals and 11 assists alone in last season's four games against St. Cloud State.
5. BADGER CONNECTIONS: Huskies' associate head coach Jinelle (Zaugg) Siergiej and assistant coach Molly Engstrom are both Wisconsin hockey alumni. Siergiej played for the Badgers in 2004-2008, was part of two national title teams and scored one of the most memorable goals in school history against Harvard during the fourth overtime of the 2007 NCAA quarterfinals. Engstrom played for the Badgers in 2004-2007, was a two-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, a 2006 Olympic Bronze medal winner and 2010 Olympic Silver medal winner.
