The Field House Chronicles: Early test for men’s hockey

There is a lot of action this weekend in Badgers sports, and each of the team has been answering my questions:

• Can women’s hockey rebound after losing Annie Pankoski and Emily Clark? Yes.
• Is women’s soccer a championship-caliber team? Yes.
• Will the men’s hockey team bring energy this year? Yes.
• Is volleyball going to bounce back from a rough start? Yes.
• Is it better that we don’t talk about men’s soccer? Yes.

The only question I have left is will Cole Caufield and Daryl Watts each lead the NCAA in goals scored this season?

No. 1 women’s hockey (6-0-0 overall, 2-0-0 conference)

Wisconsin heads to New York to take on Long Island University (0-2), which is in its first season. LIU is off to a rough start after being outscored 10-1 in a pair of losses to UConn.

Game one is Friday at 2 p.m. at IceWorks Arena. Game two is Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the home of the New York Islanders.

Photo by Steven Ryan/NHLI via Getty Images

Sorry, LIU, this is not going to end well for you.

No. 6 volleyball (10-4, 6-0)

The Badgers kick off the weekend with a Friday night fight at 8 p.m. at the Field House vs. No. 17 Illinois (9-6, 4-2). It will be televised on FS2. In a quick turnaround, Wisconsin returns to action at home Saturday night at 7 p.m. for a rematch against Northwestern (9-9, 0-6). In the first game between Wisconsin and Northwestern, the Badgers earned the sweep.

Wisconsin Athletics Communication

Both games are on the radio with Jon Arias on the call at 100.9 FM and iHeart Radio.

For an in-depth look, check out this week’s “The Sett” by our very own Matt Rock.

No. 10 women’s soccer (10-2-1, 6-0-0)

Wisconsin will play a pair of home games at the McClimon Track / Soccer Complex.

Tonight at 7 p.m., the Badgers face a tough test against Iowa (13-3-0, 5-3-0). Iowa is a dangerous team that can score goals in bunches.

On Sunday at 1 p.m., Wisconsin will turn to Nebraska (4-8-3, 3-4-1). Unfortunately, neither game will be televised.

No. 17 men’s hockey (1-1-0)

Let’s see what you got, Badgers! Wisconsin will play a pair of home games this weekend against two-time defending national champion and former WCHA rival No. 3 Minnesota Duluth (1-1-0). The puck drops Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and both games will be televised on Fox Sports Wisconsin and can be heard on 1310 WIBA or the iHeart Radio app.

Wisconsin Athletics Communications

Men’s soccer (2-9-2, 0-3-1)

After a 2-2 tie to non-conference foe SIUE, your last-place men’s soccer team takes on an upper-tier Big Ten squad, Penn State (7-2-2, 3-1-1). This home game will be played Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the McClimon Track / Soccer Complex.

It might be televised, but I frankly don’t even want to check. Watch at your own risk.

Everyone else

• Men’s and women’s tennis are still in various individual play tournaments.
• Women’s golf heads to Louisville, Ky. for the Cardinal Cup.
• Lightweight rowing is in Boston, Mass. to take on Head of the Charles. Seems like Wisconsin should beat a severed head, but what do I know?
• Men’s and women’s cross country run at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational in Madison, Wis. at the Zimmer Championship Course.
• Men’s golf will travel to Cincinnati, Ohio on Monday for the Musketeer Classic at Maketewah Country Club.