We always hear about storybook endings, but every story must start at the beginning.

Freshman Jinelle Zaugg had a storybook beginning to her career for the Wisconsin women’s hockey team. In Zaugg’s first game as a collegiate athlete, she scored her first goal, beating Wayne State goalkeeper Tina Thibideau, an accomplishment that is somewhat rare for freshmen. The next night, Zaugg made it a weekend of firsts by recording her first assist in the second game of her young career.

So, what was it like for Zaugg to score in her first game?

“It was really cool; I really wanted to do that, and it makes me just want to do it more,” Zaugg said. “To get that first goal out in the first game was definitely a big thing.”

Head coach Mark Johnson has continued to be impressed with Zaugg’s play in her freshman campaign.

“Expectations are that you get kids that can come in and play right away,” Johnson said. “Jinelle (Zaugg) was able to step right in and make a contribution. She scored in her first game, and she has done well.”

To begin her career in such a fashion was probably even more exciting for Zaugg, considering how badly she wanted to play for the Badgers while in high school.

“Being a freshman here is definitely very awesome,” Zaugg said. “I knew I wanted to be a Badger. Coming from Wisconsin definitely made me want to go to Madison, so it’s kind of been a dream.”

And what a dream it has been for UW coaches to pick up Zaugg. At 6-foot-1, Zaugg is easily the tallest player on the team, and after having to play with the boys in high school, Zaugg has learned how to use her size to her advantage. Zaugg also has skills to go with her size, drawing the coaching staff’s attention with the completeness of her game.

“She is so tall, she skates well and she handles the puck well, so when she gets confidence hanging on to the puck and doing some things, a lot of good things could happen,” Johnson said. “Her upside is huge.”

Being 6-foot-1 in women’s hockey is not all roses as Zaugg has discovered in her first few games. She has come across a few dowsides to her height since leaving the world of men’s hockey in high school.

“Not being able to check people, definitely,” Zaugg said, referring to the fact that checking is illegal in women’s hockey. “The physical part you just can’t get away with as much with the girls as you could with the guys. Definitely miss hitting people now that I can’t anymore.”

Despite the prohibition on physical play, Johnson believes that all things considered, Zaugg has done well in adjusting to the different style of play since her difficult transition from the men’s game.

“I think she has adapted pretty well,” Johnson said. “She played boys hockey most of [high school] and she has played every game and she has responded pretty well.”

The transition off the ice has also been somewhat difficult for Zaugg, as freshman year at college can be a harrowing experience, especially for a student athlete.

“It’s definitely a lot more work than high school was,” Zaugg said.

Zaugg and her coaches share the goal of developing Zaugg into a dominant player who can help carry the team to new heights in the years to come.

“Mark Johnson is a great coach and hopefully he can turn me into the best player I can be,” Zaugg said. “I just hope to play the best hockey I can during my career. If that means scoring goals or assists or just helping my team get to a national championship, I just want to be able to help the team however I can.”

Zaugg certainly has plenty of examples to follow as to how to contribute as a freshman. With sophomores Sara Bauer and Lindsey Macy, the team’s leading scorers this year, and seniors Molly Engstrom, Carla MacLeod and Jackie Friesen, who have all had international experience, the Badgers have plenty of role models for Zaugg to emulate.

“They definitely have had success and I really look up to them,” Zaugg said. “Playing with them is awesome and I just hope I can be a leader like them in the future.”

With a storybook beginning to her career as a Badger already in place, Zaugg could complete the tale if she does in fact follow in the footsteps of some of her teammates. Check back in three years to find out.