Saturday, December 1
Madison, WI
3 PM
Syracuse University
at
Wisconsin
Orange Prepare for Test Against No. 1 Wisconsin
11/30/2018 3:00:00 PM | Ice Hockey
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange make their way to Madison, Wis. this weekend to face the top-ranked team in the country. The Syracuse women's hockey team will play two games against No. 1 Wisconsin, facing off against the Badgers at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 before wrapping up the series at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Orange are 0-4-0 all-time against the Badgers. Syracuse last played Wisconsin one year ago, hosting the top-ranked Badgers inside Tennity Ice Pavilion.
Syracuse lost the first game of the series, 1-0, before suffering a 5-2 setback against Wisconsin the following day. Forwards Kelli Rowswell and Emma Polaski scored goals for the Orange in the loss.
SCOUTING THE BADGERS
Syracuse will have its hands full against the nation's best team. The Badgers are 15-1-0 entering this weekend.
Wisconsin averages 3.4 goals per game and has five players with double-figure point totals. Forward Abby Roque leads the squad with 19 points, including a team-high 13 assists, and the Badgers' top goal-scorers are forwards Sophie Shirley and Annie Pankowski, who each have nine goals this season.
Wisconsin is solid defensively, too. The Badgers have limited opponents to 1.1 goals per game this season thanks to goalie Kristen Campbell, who has an 1.08 GAA and a .936 save percentage through 16 games this year.Â
WHAT'S NEW WITH THE ORANGE
The Orange are coming off two losses suffered last weekend at the Windjammer Classic in Burlington, Vt. Syracuse was blanked against both Vermont and No. 8 St. Lawrence, losing 2-0 and 4-0, respectively.
Goaltender Maddi Welch manned the net for the entire tournament and totaled 44 saves over two games. Welch's 26 saves against St. Lawrence were her second-highest total of the season. She was one save shy of matching her season-best total of 27, which she recorded in the season opener at Boston College.
Despite suffering shutouts in both games at the Windjammer Classic, the Orange's offense is creating opportunities, scoring at least twice in eight games this year. Polaski has led the Orange with her impressive offensive numbers, pacing the team in goals with eight. She earned her first career hat trick against RIT on Nov. 16, and Polaski's 11 total points this season are tied for the team high with defender Allie Munroe.
WHAT LIES AHEAD
Following the two games against the top-ranked Badgers, the Orange travel back to Central New York to play a home-and-home series against Colgate. The action gets started in Syracuse at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 at Tennity.
For complete coverage of Syracuse ice hockey, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Women's Ice Hockey), Twitter (@CuseIce) and Instagram (@CuseIce).
Players Mentioned
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