It's hard to believe, but we've reached the break in the season for the #1 ranked Wisconsin Women's Hockey program. With that we'd like to catch you all up on what's been going on, since most of our and your attention has been on football and the start of the basketball season. If you haven't been paying attention to this team that's a damn shame because they are easily the best team in the Badgers Athletics program. Why do I say that?
Wisconsin enters the winter break not only with the #1 ranking in the country, but a 19-1-0 record, and a 14 game winning streak. The only loss came against #2 ranked Minnesota, who holds a 15-3-0 record at this point in the season, back in October (2-3). This is about as dominate a college sports team as you'll find anywhere in any sport really.
Just how dominate? During this current 14 game win streak the Badgers are averaging 4.6 goals a game while only giving up 1.2 goals a game. On the year this team has scored 102 goals, but have only given up 26. I'd say that's pretty much domination, huh?
As a team they rank 2nd in the country in scoring, averaging 5.10 goals a game, just behind Cornell at #1. Defensively they rank 2nd to Minnesota, only giving up 1.3 goals a game (just .10 behind the Gophers).
With those gaudy team numbers you'd expect the Badgers to rank right up there individually and they do.
Here are your team leaders:
Points: Brianna Decker (48 points, 21 goals, 27 assists)
Goals: Hilary Knight (23)
Assists: Brianna Decker (27)
Goalies stats: Alex Rigsby (1.34gaa, .949 save %)
Those team leaders are also right up there nationally, with Brianna Decker holding down the #1 spot in points and 2nd (just one behind leader) in assists nationally. The Badgers have two others ranked in the top 6 of points. Brooke Ammerman ranks 3rd at 42 points, while Hilary Knight is tied for 6th with 37 points on the year. In terms of goals, so far the Badgers own the top 2 spots with Knight ranking 1st (23) and Brianna Decker 2nd (21). Decker and Ammerman are 2nd and 3rd nationally in assists.
Perhaps the most overlooked and underrated player on this team is sophomore Goalie Alex Rigsby. She has played all but 40 minutes (2 periods) so far this season. Additionally she ranks 1st in save percentage (.949) and 3rd in goals against average (1.34), while also playing the 2nd most minutes of any netminder in the country.
Wisconsin won't return to the ice until January 6, 2012 as they play their toughest stretch of the year with series' at Minnesota and then North Dakota the following weekend. If Wisconsin survives those 4 games without a loss it very well could be a long winning streak as the Badgers look to win another National Championship come March.
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