Mankato, Minn.--- The Minnesota State women’s hockey team returns home for a four-game homestand after earning a split last weekend at #5 North Dakota.  The win marked MSU’s first this season against a ranked opponent and first victory in Grand Forks since January 29th, 2011.  The Mavericks play host to Lindenwood University - who MSU swept last season in its first two meetings against the Lions - at 7:07 p.m. Friday evening with the weekend finale set for 3:07 p.m. Saturday afternoon.  

Lindenwood and MSU History: 

• Minnesota State swept Lindenwood defeating the Lions, 4-3 and 10-2, at All Seasons Arena to open up the 2011-12 season
• Last year’s opening weekend series marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs with the Mavericks holding a 2-0 advantage
• MSU will head to St. Charles, Mo. for its first-ever meeting at Lindenwood later this season Jan. 1-2, 2013
• The last Maverick sweep was last year’s series win over LU to kick off the season.
• Minnesota State outshot Lindenwood 115-32 in last season’s series
• Minnesota State junior goaltender Danielle Butters collected 16 saves and allowed two goals in last season’s series finale victory.
• Senior Lauren Smith racked up four points on a goal and three assists, while juniors Lauren Barnes and Tracy McCann also amassed four points off four assists and two goals and two helpers respectively.  
• Sophomore Kathleen Rogan scored four goals in a single-game for the fifth time in school history in last year’s 10-2 Mavericks’ win.
• MSU held Lindenwood to 1-of- 10 (10%) on the power-play last season, while going 3-for-9 (33%) on the power-play against LU in two games.
• Alison Wickenheiser scored two of the Lions’ five goals in last year’s series, while Kendra Broad earned a goal and assist herself
• Netminder Taylor Fairchild started both games in goal for Lindenwood a year ago recording 102 saves and allowing 12 goals in two starts.

University of Lindenwood Notes:

• Lindenwood posted an 8-21-0 record last season with all eight wins coming away from home.
• LU went 8-15 away from St. Charles last season including two losses at MSU
• Lindenwood has been swept by two WCHA opponents in its first four games
• The Lions fell 4-0 and 7-2 at Ohio State and 7-2 and 9-1 at home to #4 Wisconsin.
• Eight different skaters have recorded a point for the Lions this year.
• Sophomore Alison Wickenheiser leads LU with a goal and two assists for a team-high three points.  She also leads the squad with 14 shots on goal.
• Freshman goaltender Nicole Hensley has played in all four games, starting three, accumulating a .895 save percentage and 5.66 GAA.
• Lindenwood is relatively young comprising only ten upperclassman on its 24 student-athlete roster
• The Lions are averaging 1.2 goals/game, while giving up 6.8 goals/game defensively in 2012-13.
• Lindenwood has been outshot 221-76, including 0-3 on short-handed attempts, while opponents have gone 1-6 on the penalty-kill
• LU is 2-of-19 (11%) on the man advantage, while holding opponents to 8-of-24 (33%) on the penalty kill through four contests.
• The Lions are 0-3 on short-handed attempts , while opponents have gone 1-6 on the penalty-kill
• Opponents have outshot Lindenwood 221-76 this season for a 55.2-19.0 advantage in shots/game.
• LU has taken 30 power-plays for 71 minutes and an average of 17.8 penalties/game in 2012-13.

In the WCHA: Junior Tracy McCann (left) is currently tied for eight in the conference in points (6), while fellow junior Danielle Butters sits fifth in save percentage (.922).  As a team, Minnesota State stands fifth in scoring offense (2.00 goals/game), scoring defense (2.80 goals/game) and power-play (3/15, 20%).

Standing Out: Minnesota State sits fourth in the conference aftering earning three points in a series split last weekend at North Dakota.  MSU takes a break from WCHA foes this weekend to take on Lindenwood in the Mavericks’ first non-conference series this  season.

What Lies Ahead:  Minnesota State will wrap-up the four game homestand next weekend hosting Minnesota-Duluth in WCHA action before heading east to #9 Mercyhurst.

Close, but No Cigar: MSU was unable to complete its first road sweep since defeating Ohio State in a two-game series Nov. 12-13, 2010, when it fell 4-1 at North Dakota last Saturday afternoon.

Smooth as Butters: Junior goaltender Danielle Butters earned the first conference honors of the season for the Mavericks being named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 3rd.  She recorded a career-high 41 saves in a 2-2 tie with #2 Wisconsin on Sept. 28th and 77 total in the series.  The junior has amassed a .922 save percentage and 2.70 GAA through four games.
 
Strong Out of the Gate: Junior forward Tracy McCann has been on the scoresheet in the last three games posting three goals and three assists to lead all Maverick skaters.

How We Stack Up Against the Rest:  Minnesota State received one vote in the USCHO Women’s Hockey Poll released Oct. 8th after splitting with #5 North Dakota the weekend before.

Climbing the Ranks: Senior Lauren Smith  is tied for sixth all-time at MSU with 38 career assists.  She needs 14 to tie the all-time record of 52 shared by Christina Lee and Maggie  Fischer.  Smith is also sixth all-time shots (335) with the MSU career marks sitting at 483.

Beat the Best to Be the Best:  Minnesota State owns a 1-2-1 record this season against ranked opponents with its lone win coming at North Dakota, 3-2, on Oct. 5th.

Third Period Magic:  MSU has made a habit out of scoring late as six of its eight goals have come in the third period, including three in a 3-2 come from behind win last Friday evening over #5 North Dakota.

Statistically Speaking: The Mavericks have been outscored 8-11 in four games this year.  They are 3-of-15 (20%) on the power-play and are limiting opponents to 3-of-14 (21%) on the man advantage.  MSU has been outshot 84-141 at this point in the season.

Protecting Our House: MSU holds a 0-1-1 record at All Seasons Arena this year and is 72-119-22 all-time at home.  The Mavericks have called the arena home since their inception in 1998.

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