The burden on their shoulders was both unfair and unrealistic.

They were essentially victims of their predecessors' success. And once they slipped up, members of the University of Wisconsin women's hockey team were going to hear the questions and see the puzzled faces.

Such is life when you're the two-time defending NCAA champions, are coming off a season that included only one loss and carrying a 26-game unbeaten streak into a new — and very different — season.

"I think most people (on the outside) had that feeling, that we were going to have that season where you had one or two losses just because the last two seasons were just amazing," Badgers junior goaltender Jessie Vetter said. "And that's what I keep telling our team. I was like, 'The last two seasons, they were dream seasons. You can't repeat that at all.'"

UW may not be the dominant team it was last season, when it outscored opponents 166-36 en route to a 36-1-4 record behind a star-studded senior class containing the likes of forward Sara Bauer (24 goals, 48 assists for 72 points) and defensemen Bobbi-Jo Slusar (11-22-33) and Meaghan Mikkelson (11-38-49).

But the Badgers (16-6-2, 12-4-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) enter this weekend's home series against No. 9 St. Cloud State (15-5-4, 10-5-3) ranked fifth in the country and playing their best hockey, having won six straight.

The winning streak has come on the heels of UW's most trying part of the season, a seven-game stretch that saw it lose five times and tie once.

But the Badgers are hoping a NCAA-record crowd will see the progress they've made since then during Saturday's game, when they host their "Fill the Bowl" event to benefit Second Harvest Foodbank.

UW has had to overcome youth — the Badgers' roster contains nine freshmen and five sophomores — and the high expectations that came with the last two seasons' success.

"We could point our finger at a lot of different things (as to) why it hasn't gone quite the way we wanted it to," said UW senior forward Jinelle Zaugg, who is tied for the team lead in goals with 10. "But I think all in all, it's starting to come together."

And that couldn't be happening at a better time.

The Badgers have five weekend series left before the WCHA playoffs and, despite their midseason struggles, they are in good position to secure a NCAA tournament berth.

"Hopefully we can take care of business as we go down the home stretch here and play up to our capabilities," UW coach Mark Johnson said. "That's all you ask for: Try to become the best team we can become, and that's going to be good enough."

Badgers vs. St. Cloud State

When, where: 2 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday, Kohl Center.

Radio: Saturday's game on 1070 AM.

Special event: On Saturday, UW will try to "Fill the Bowl'' to raise money for Second Harvest Foodbank and set a record for attendance at an NCAA women's hockey game. For tickets, call 1-800 GO BADGERS or visit uwbadgers.com.