It took goaltender Scott Gudmandson just four games last year as a freshman to get his first career start. One year later, his first start came two games earlier.

As Wisconsin opened its season with a tough road swing against Boston College and New Hampshire Friday and Saturday, head coach Mike Eaves decided to switch up the goalie situation between the two games.

Senior netminder Shane Connelly made the start Friday, stopping 32 shots in a 5-4 loss. So in an effort to get the sophomore Gudmandson some experience, Eaves wasted no time in throwing the sophomore into the fire against New Hampshire.

Although he was tabbed with the 5-1 loss, Gudmandson made 28 saves in his first collegiate road start.

"In talking to Scotty on the way home, he knows that he played well. He looked very sharp," Eaves said. "The first goal was kind of unfortunate because it went off the glass, he didn't know where it was, and it ended up on their stick and in the net. And then they scored within a minute later. That one wasn't his fault, but the third one he'd like to have back."

Don't read too much into Eaves starting Gudmandson so early. It was the same scenario a season ago--although Gudmandson faced Robert Morris, not New Hampshire--but Gudmandson ended the season with just three starts. Expect the veteran Connelly to carry the load the rest of the way for Wisconsin.