Wisconsin Women's Hockey Preview: Badgers Set for Minnesota State Clash

Badgers vs. Mavericks - Historical Bonds and Dominant Records

Wisconsin's Britta Curl (left) and Cami Kronish celebrate Curl's goal during the second period of the Badgers' 2-1 victory over Minnesota State on Saturday Jan. 21, 2023 at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wis. Uwice Minnesota Mankato 6 Jan 21 2023 :: © Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Wisconsin Women's Hockey Team is set to continue their impressive run as they square off against Minnesota State. Scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight October 12 and tomorrow October 13 at LaBahn Arena.

Dominance on Ice

Tracing back to their first face-off on December 3, 1999, which the Badgers clinched 3-2, Wisconsin has, more often than not, been the dominant force. Their most prolonged victory streak against the Mavericks stretched for 28 matches between March 2, 2014, and February 7, 2020. At home, the Badgers boast a 54-2-1 record, while their away games chart stands at 46-1-2 against Minnesota State.

Historical Ties That Bind 

The ties between the Badgers and the Mavericks run even deeper than that '99 game, tracing back to the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team's iconic gold medal victory in Lake Placid, New York. 

Both team's head coaches - Wisconsin's Mark Johnson and Minnesota State's John Harrington, were important players in that legendary team, with each scoring points in the crucial semi-final game. Johnson stood out with his amount of points throughout the exhibition matches and the Olympics.

A First in School History: 3 Hat Tricks Lead Wisconsin Women's Hockey to Victory

Wisconsin's Casey O'Brien handles the puck during the period of the team's hockey game with Minnesota State Saturday Feb. 25, 2023 at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wis. Uwice Minnesota State 1 Feb 25 2023 :: © Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Players to Watch

The start of this season has seen the Badgers set the ice ablaze, netting a staggering 39 goals in merely four games, a feat unmatched nationwide. Captain Britta Curl is on fire! Leading both her team and the nation in points, she's registered 13 points from four goals and nine assists. Moreover, Curl's recent power play goal ensures her spot among the top ten Badgers with 20 power play goals. She also stands 19th in the university's history, boasting 131 career points.

But the accomplishments don't end with Curl. Players like Cassie Hall, Lacey Eden, and Sophie Helgeson recently etched their names in the history books. In their game against Lindenwood, they became the first trio from the school to bag hat tricks all in one game. Casey O'Brien also deserves a mention for her significant milestone of 50 career goals achieved last week.

Final Thoughts

Their previous encounter on February 25, 2023, witnessed a  4-1 victory for the Badgers. Given their stellar track record and the sheer talent brimming in their ranks, it's widely anticipated that this series will tilt in favor of the Badgers. Catch the action on B1G+ or tune into 1070 AM for live commentary.

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