09/10 Women's Previews: #3 Maria Evans

Vitals:

Position: Forward
Year in School: Junior by eligibility
Shoot Right
Height: 5-4
Hometown: Chanhassen, MN
Major: People and the Environment Geography
Previous Team: Chaska HS 05/06

08/09 Stats: 21 games, 1-2-3, +1, 4 PIM
07/08 Stats: 3 games, 0-0-0, E, 4 PIM

09/10 Role: likely 4th line

08/09 Recap: Maria saw a lot of playing time in the first half of the season and notched her first goal and assist as a Badger in the first game of the season against Quinnipiac. During the second half of the season she lost playing time to Kayla Hagen on the 4th line. Unless my eyes deceived me last season, the 4th line doesn’t see much ice time.

09/10 Thoughts: The Badger Women will be short at forward this season, so Maria should be a regular in the lineup and see some good playing time. It’s harder for me to judge the Women than the Men, but I’d think her role will stay on the 4th line. I blame Coach Johnson (jokingly) for the reason why I don’t know more about Maria Evans.

Prediction: 34 games, 1-4-5
*All predictions for regular season only

Photo from uwbadgers.com

Hilary Knight 5 Goal Free for All

The Badger Women started things off on the right foot this weekend. On friday the Badgers shutout the Bobcats of Quinnipiac 10-0. Jesse Vetter was in net for her 26th career shutout. Maria Evans, Carolyne Prevost and Brittany Haverstock all notched their first points as Badgers; Evans and Prevost notching their first goals.

On saturday, Quinnipiac brought a better effort, but they were again no match for the Badgers who won 7-3. Alannah McCready got the start in the net for the Badgers. Hilary Knight provided the fans in attendance w/ Culvers ice cream all by herself w/ an impressive 5 goal preformance. She's the bomb. A lot of that credit should go to Erika Lawler as well, she made some great passes to give Knight some easy goals. Freshman Brooke Ammerman notched her first goal as a Badger to get things rolling in the 1st period.

Overall the line of Erika Lawler-Angie Keseley-Hilary Knight was outstanding. Lawler finished the weekend w/ 7 assists, Knight w/ 7 goals and 2 assists, Keseley w/ 2 assists. If that wasn't enough trouble for Quinnipiac, the 2nd line of Malory Deluce-Meghan Duggan-Carolyne Prevost were just as good. If only the Men's team could generate offense like this...

Sure its just Quinnipiac, but the Badger Women started strong. Next weekend, they face Sryacuse who is in its first year as a program. Wisconsin will also be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Women's program. I strongly encourage fans to attend, if you are coming for the football game, stop by for a few periods before getting "ready" for the night cap against Ohio State at Camp Randall.

Women's Player Previews: #14 Maria Evans

Vitals:

Position: Forward
Year in School: RS Sophomore
Shoots Right
Height: 5-4
Hometown: Chanhassen, MN
Previous Team: Chaska HS
Major: People and the Environment Geography

07/08 Stats: 3 games, 0-0-0, E, 4 PIM

Thoughts: While Maria didn't see much ice time last season, he definately dominated in the classroom. Her scholastic honors included Academic All-Big Ten, Academic All-WCHA, and UW Athletic Board Scholar.

Photo from uwbadgers.com