The University of Wisconsin women's hockey team is on a streak they haven't been on since 2003. Unfortunately, this particular stretch is a three-game losing skid, a seemingly unknown concept for a team that lost only one game last season.

The Badgers (9-4-1, 5-4-1 WCHA) dropped a game to Minnesota two weeks ago and then were swept this past weekend by New Hampshire to forge the streak.

The team members aren't down on themselves, though, giving credit to the play of UNH rather than any serious errors of their own.

"We gave it our all and worked really hard," senior Jinelle Zaugg said. "I wouldn't say that we made many mistakes. [UNH] just took advantage of their opportunities a bit more than we did."

"I liked the intensity we played with," head coach Mark Johnson added. "We played hard in both games, we had an opportunity to win both games, and hopefully we can learn from this and become a better team."

After the two tough tests presented by Minnesota and New Hampshire, Wisconsin can look forward to a team with a much weaker record this weekend. The Badgers will travel up to Bemidji, Minn., this Friday to play the Beavers of Bemidji State.

The Beavers (1-9-2, 0-7-1 WCHA) have struggled this season — finally posting their first win last weekend — and will have a hard time skating with the Badgers. In fact, UW is 28-1-1 lifetime against BSU, and Wisconsin has beaten them in 15 straight contests.

Wisconsin, however, is not treating them differently than any other opponent.

"We have to work hard against every team," Zaugg said. "They play in the WCHA, so even if their record isn't that good, they will still be a challenge."

The key to the upcoming series, according to Johnson, is intensity.

"We played with great intensity this weekend, and I expect us to play the same way against Bemidji," Johnson said. "We need to play with the same effort and just capitalize on a few more opportunities."

Some of the opportunities that Johnson is referring to are power plays. The Badgers went one for 14 against New Hampshire, with the lone goal coming from freshman Hilary Knight. In the past four games UW has only converted three of 25 power plays, and for the season they are converting at a just 20.8 percent clip.

"We didn't do a very good job with the power play," Johnson said. "The coaches and I need to figure out some units for the power play, who can create chances and create opportunities. … Our power play will be a point of emphasis in practice all week."

UW only managed to score two goals in their last two games — albeit against a very good defense — and will need to improve their shooting against a strong BSU goaltender, senior Emily Brookshaw.

Brookshaw was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week twice last year and has set nearly all of BSU's goaltending records.

"[Brookshaw] is a player we have to be aware of," Johnson said. "She is capable of stopping 50 or 60 shots if she is on. We need to do a good job of creating chances to beat her."