For the first time since the 2011-12 season, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team checked in at No. 1 in the USCHO.Com Division 1 Women’s Hockey Poll.
Wisconsin (6-0-0, 4-0-0-0 WCHA) overtook Border Battle rival Minnesota (3-0-1, 1-0-1-0 WCHA) for the number one spot in USCHO.com’s weekly poll, garnering 13 of the 15 first place votes. Wisconsin has outscored its opponents 30-4 in its first six games this year. The Badgers are coming off a sweep of Ohio State, as UW defeated OSU, 6-0, on Friday before completing the sweep on Sunday with a 3-0 triumph.
Their appearance at the top of the poll is the Badgers’ first since March 5, 2012.
This week also marks the first time since March 5, 2012 that any team other than Minnesota has taken the number one spot in an in-season poll, as Clarkson was ranked No. 1 after winning the 2014 NCAA title against the Gophers in Hamden, Connecticut.
Minnesota dropped out of the top spot after scoring two goals in the final 12 minutes of the third period to force a 3-3 tie with Minnesota-Duluth last Saturday.
The Badgers and Gophers meet on Friday at 7pm at LaBahn Arena before wrapping up their series at 3 p.m. on Saturday.