MADISON, Wis. – The top-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey team returns to Madison for its home-opening series against Boston College. Puck drop on Thursday and Friday is set for 7 p.m. and Friday's game is sold out.
UW opens its home slate on Thursday with a 7 p.m. game as two-time Olympian Karyn Bye will drop the puck. On Friday, the Badgers will raise its 2023 NCAA Championship Banner at 6:45 p.m. prior to the series finale at 7 p.m. as several members of the 2023 NCAA Championship Team will be back in Madison for the ceremony.Â
Fans should note that parking this season will be $5 per game in Lots 29, 46 and 91. ADA parking is also available for $5 in Lots 44 and 87 and is subject to availability. All parking lots will open two hours prior to the event or not before 5 p.m. on weekdays.Â
Fans that can't make it to the series can watch the games on B1G+ or listen to the games on 1070 AM as Noah Clark and Aidan Michaels have the call from LaBahn.Â
1. LAST TIME OUT: The Badgers swept Lindenwood in their season-opening series, defeating Lindenwood 6-0 on Thursday before earning a 16-1 win on Friday.
Britta Curl led the way with six points for the Badgers while
Lacey Eden,
Caroline Harvey and
Laila Edwards all posted five points during the sweep.
Jane Gervais posted a shutout in Thursday's contest while
Ava McNaughton earned the win in her Badger debut on Friday.Â
2. RECORDS ON RECORDS: Friday's win set several school records as the Badgers' 16 goals were the most goals scored in WCHA history and rank second in NCAA history. In addition, UW's goal margin of 15 goals matched the NCAA record of 15 set by Harvard against Boston College on Jan. 28, 2003, . The Badgers also matched their program record of seven goals scored in a single period as UW posted seven in the final period against the Lions.Â
3. THRICE AS NICE: A trio of Badger skaters were honored for their contributions in the sweep of Lindenwood by the WCHA in both the WCHA weekly and monthly awards.
Lacey Eden,
Caroline Harvey and
Cassie Hall each picked up their first WCHA awards of the season. Eden was named WCHA Forward of the Week and for the month of September thanks to her five goals in the series against Lindenwood, including her first collegiate hat trick in Friday's game. Harvey recorded five points (1G, 4A) in the 16-1 win over Lindenwood on Friday, securing her the WCHA Defender of the Week title and the WCHA Defender of the Month honor for September. Freshman Hall earned her first collegiate honors after being named both the WCHA Rookie of the Week and the WCHA Rookie of the Month for September. The South Lyon, Michigan native enjoyed a four-goal outing against Lindenwood on Friday and completed the series with a +6 plus/minus rating.Â
4. STELLAR STARTS: Five Badgers made their debut for the Cardinal and White last weekend and didn't disappoint. Transfer
Anna Wilgren recorded five assists on Friday, matching the school record for most assists by a defender.
Cassie Hall recorded four goals on Friday, becoming only the seventh Badger to record four or more goals in a single game and only the second freshman to accomplish the feat.
Laney Potter and
Ava Murphy each recorded three assists over the weekend while
Ava McNaughton made 16 saves in her debut on Friday.Â
5. AGAINST BC:Â The Badgers are 7-0-0 all time against the Eagles, including a 2-0-0 record in Madison. This marks the Eagles' first trip to Wisconsin since Dec. 9-10, 2000 when UW defeated BC 8-1 and 5-3 in Middleton, Wisconsin. The only two Badgers with experience playing the Eagles are
Britta Curl and
Chayla Edwards as the duo helped UW to 5-3 win against BC on Nov. 30, 2019 Â in the Country Classic in Nashville, Tennessee.Â