NCAA Quarterfinal Coverage
Saturday, March 16 | 2 pm CT — LaBahn Arena
MADISON, Wis. – For the sixth-straight year, the Wisconsin women's hockey team will host an NCAA quarterfinal as the Badgers welcome Syracuse to LaBahn Arena. Puck drop on Saturday is set for 2 p.m. and the game sold out in minutes on Monday morning.
The winner of UW/SU will advance to the 2019 NCAA Frozen Four, March 22-24, in Hamden, Connecticut.
Please note that the 2019 WIAA State Boys Basketball Tournament will be going on at the Kohl Center concurrently with tomorrow's women's hockey game and that parking options will be limited. A limited number of stalls will be available on a first-come first-served basis for either event in Lots 44, 45, 51 and 56. In addition, fans may purchase parking in Lots 29, 46 and 91 for $10 based on availability.
A video stream will be available for free via BTN Plus, while fans can listen to the game on 100.9 FM with Reid Magnum and UW goaltender coach Mark Greenhalgh on the call.
1. A FAMILIAR FOE: Wisconsin and Syracuse have already played this season at LaBahn Arena when UW won the series opener on Dec. 1, 6-1, before earning a 9-1 win on Dec. 2. Emily Clark had a hat trick in the second contest while Britta Curl also scored three goals in the sweep. The two teams also met last season in Syracuse when UW blanked the Orange, 1-0, on Oct. 6, 2017 before earning a 5-2 win on Oct. 7, 2017. Junior Abby Roque has a team-high seven points against the Orange from a goal and six assists. Roque scored the only goal in last year's 1-0 win at Syracuse. In four career games against Syracuse, Kristen Campbell has a 4-0-0 record, a 0.90 GAA and a .943 save percentage.
2. BACK IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT Wisconsin is 22-8 in NCAA tournament games and has won its last 11 NCAA quarterfinal games, including its last five games at LaBahn Arena. A win on Saturday would give UW its sixth-straight NCAA Frozen Four appearance, which would match the NCAA record set by Minnesota (2012-17).
3. PRIMED FOR THE POSTSEASON: Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-Three Finalist Annie Pankowski has been on fire during the playoffs, as her six goals are tied for the most among NCAA skaters while her eight points rank second in the country. WCHA All-Rookie selection Britta Curl is also tied for the NCAA lead with six tallies as she has scored in each of UW's four playoff games, including the game-winning strike in UW's 3-1 triumph over Minnesota in the 2019 WCHA Final Faceoff Championship.
4. CAMPBELL ON THE CUSP OF HISTORY: A two-time WCHA Goaltender of the Year, Kristen Campbell paces the NCAA this year with 32 wins, eight shutouts and a 1.12 goals-against average. Campbell's 32 victories between the pipes this year rank fourth in school history one shy of Ann-Renee Desbiens (2015-16), Alex Rigsby (2011-12) and Jessie Vetter (2008-09), who share the school record of 33 wins. Campbell is also the only goaltender in school history to post multiple 30-win seasons for the Cardinal and White.
5. FRESHMEN ON FIRE: The freshmen duo of Sophie Shirley and Britta Curl have been making history for the Badgers all year long as only the second pair of rookies in program history to score more than 20 goals in a season. The WCHA Rookie of the Year, Shirley's 38 points are tied for the eighth-most by a Badger freshman as she looks to become the eighth Badger to tally 40 points in her first season. Curl, an All-WCHA Rookie Team selection and a WCHA Final Faceoff All-Tournament Team honoree, ranks 14th in program history in points with 32 on 22 goals and 10 assists. Curl's 22 goals are tied for the fifth-most in school history by a freshman.
