The Season Opener: Minnesota State (0-0-0) hosts Lindenwood University (0-2-0) this weekend in MSU’s first action of the season. Friday, the puck is scheduled to drop at 7:07 p.m. at All Season Arena. Saturday’s contest is slated for 3:07 p.m., at ASA.

Leading the Squad: Senior defenseman Ariel Mackley leads the 2011-12 women’s hockey team as she serves as the captain. Senior defenseman Jackie Otto, senior forward Moira O’Connor and junior forward Lauren Smith will serve as alternative captains this season.

Scoutin’ Lindenwood: The Lady Lions come into the weekend (0-2) two games into its first NCAA season as it dropped two games to defending national champions Wisconsin last weekend. Lindenwood lost 11-0 and 13-0 in its first games as a Division I hockey program. The Lady Lions were outshot 132-15 in the two games against the Badgers. This is the first season Lindenwood will play a NCAA schedule as the previous eight seasons it played in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Fourteen of the 24 players on the roster are freshmen this season. The team is made up of players from all over the map, hailing from 13 different states or provinces.
    The Lady Lions found success at the ACHA level last season as they won the CCWHA conference with a 12-1-1record. Lindenwood outscored opponents 224-43 last year while it averaged 5.9 goals per game and 44.9 shots per game. LU’s power-play was 25 percent (37-148).
LU is led by junior captain Brett Lobreau who put up 29-24--53 last season as well as eight power-play goals. Sophomore assistant captain Kelsey Talbot was the leading scorer last year with 27-28--55. The sophomore scored four game-winners and six power-play goals in the 2010-11 season.

Bring on the Best: In 2010-11, 20 of the 36 games last season were against top ten schools. This season the Mavericks play 18 games against teams that are in the USCHO top-ten preseason poll. The final ten games of the season are against teams that are currently.

Breaking into the Season: The Mavericks are 7-6 on its first game of the season in their 13 seasons. Minnesota State is 12-12-2 in season-opening series. In the last five years MSU collects a 4-1 record in season openers.

A Year Ago On Opening Weekend: #Moira O’Connor scored two goals against Niagara in the 3-2 MSU victory. Lauren Smith tallied the third Mavericks goal in their season debut. Game two of the opening series ended in a 0-0 tie as MSU netminder Alli Altmann# made 19 saves before Minnesota State lost in the shoot-out.

The One-Two Punch: Sophomore Kathleen Rogan and junior Lauren Smith return in to the 2011-12 season as the top two in points, assists and shots. Rogan went 12-9--21 with 86 shots. Smith went 4-11--15 with a total of 104 shots.

Close, but No Cigar: Last season the Mavericks played in 12 games decided by one goal or less. In those games, MSU owned a 2-7-3 record.

Shots, Shots and more Shots: Minnesota State had at least 20 shots in 25 games last season. MSU took 25 or more shots in 15 games and 30-plus shots in eight games.

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