Badgers Open WCHA Season
October 13, 2004 | Women's Hockey
The fourth-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey (2-0-0) begins WCHA play Saturday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. on its home ice at the Kohl Center against Bemidji State.
This weekend's series will be the 23rd and 24th meetings between the conference schools since play began in 1998-99. Wisconsin owns a distinct 20-1-1 advantage in the series with the lone Beaver victory won on Dec. 9, 2001 in a 5-1 decision in Eau Claire, Wis. Wisconsin has won the last seven meetings including all four contests last season.
Bemidji State opened its season with a pair of games at No. 8 Mercyhurst. A 2-1 upset victory snapped an 11-game losing streak and gave Beaver head coach Bruce Olson his 15th career win. The Beavers dropped the rematch 4-2 and will bring a 1-1-0 record to Madison.
A familiar face will be on the BSU bench'former Badger Sis Paulsen made the move to Bemidji as the team's newest assistant coach.
Forwards Aimee Collins and Kelly Hart provided all of the necessary offense for the Beavers. Hart is BSU's leading scorer in the young season, adding Bemidji State's long goal in the second-night defeat.
This weekend's match-up showcases a sample of the conference 's best talent as WCHA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week face another.
Bemidji State junior goaltender Jill Luebke, a Neenah, Wis. native, was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for the second time of her career after 46 saves in the season's opening game at No. 8 Mercyhurst's. A 2.01 GAA and .943 save percentage ranks Luebke among the NCAA top ten in both categories.
Wisconsin forward Lindsay Macy scored four goals and four assists in the UW's series against Wayne State to earn WCHA Offensive Player of the Week recognition for the opening weekend. Macy totaled four points each game with her second career hattrick, Wisconsin's second in as many nights, coming Saturday.
