The UW women's hockey team takes to the ice tonight in Mankato, Minn. in the season opener against Minnesota State Mankato.
The game marks the start of six consecutive road games to open the season for Wisconsin.
Th Badgers posted a 33-5-2 record last year and made it all the way to the national championship game where they fell to Minnesota.
Wisconsin returns two of its top-five scorers. 2012 WCHA Offensive Player of the Year and Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner Brianna Decker (37 G, 45 A) returns to the lineup. She will be joined by fellow forward Brittany Ammermann (13 G, 17A).
Starting goaltender Alex Rigsby (33-5-2, 1.43 GAA) is also back with the squad this season. Her 1,044 saves was the highest single-season mark in program history.
The cardinal and white will have to replace a good chunk of their offensive production. Three of the top-five scorers from a year ago were lost to graduation. That is a combined 196 points.
Looking ahead to this weekend's series, the Badgers and Mavericks met six times a season ago and the Badgers took all six meetings, including the two games in Mankato.
Wisconsin outscored the Mavericks by a combined score of 31-3 and posted four shutouts.
The Badgers are 10-3 all-time in season openers, 2-0 on the road.
Friday night marks the first time that Wisconsin has opened the season with a road series since the 2007-08 campaign.
Fans can follow along with the action via twitter, live stats, as well as a live blog on the UW Athletics site. All of the available coverage can be found here.
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