What's On Tap:  MSU returns to action after last week's bye when it opens its home portion of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association schedule inside All Seasons Arena against the Bulldogs of Minnesota Duluth.
 
The Mavericks (3-3-0, 0-2-0 WCHA) evened their overall ledger two weeks ago with their first sweep of the season at Lindenwood topping the Lady Lions by margins of 7-1 and 3-1. This series will mark the first WCHA road action of the year for Minnesota Duluth (2-3-1, 0-3-1 WCHA) when it kicks off Friday night at 7:07 p.m., before wrapping up Saturday afternoon at 3:07 p.m.
 
Last Time on the Ice:  Minnesota State raced out to a 5-1 lead after the initial period behind four power-play goals en route to a 7-1 rout over host Lindenwood back on Oct. 11. Six different Mavericks found the back of the net in the victory, including senior Lauren Barnes (Burnsville, Minn.) who netted a pair of power-play markers for the Mavericks. Junior Kathleen Rogan's (Vancouver, B.C.) four points (1-3--4) were a game-high as she also tallied the game-winner.
 
The Mavericks controlled play in the series finale as well outshooting LU 37-18 and collecting a 3-1 win for the series sweep. Senior Kari Lundberg (Woodbury, Minn.) notched her second goal in as many games, while Rogan scored her second game-winner of the series. Senior Tracy McCann (Lakewood, Ohio) produced her first goal on the year and a season-high three points (1-2--3) in the victory.
 
Scouting the Bulldogs:  Minnesota Duluth stands 2-3-1 on the year and 0-3-1 inside the WCHA after suffering a home sweep at the hands of No. 1 Minnesota last weekend by scores of 4-0 and 6-3. The Bulldogs dropped a 4-3 decision to host North Dakota before battling to a 3-3 draw with UND in the series finale two weeks ago in Grand Forks. Offensively, UMD is averaging 3.67 goals per game and 34.0 shots per game, while defensively, it is allowing 3.00 goals per game and 32.2 shots per game. The Bulldog power-play has converted at an 18.2% efficiency to date, while the penalty-kill has a 90.3% success rate.
 
The Bulldogs are under the guidance of 15th-year head coach Shannon Miller, who is the only leader the program has ever known. Miller owns a 350-120-40 career record and five national championships to her credit at UMD. Junior Jenna McParland (F, 5-9, Schreiber, Ont.) leads the Bulldogs in goal scoring and ranks second in point scoring with 5-3--8 to date. Freshman Lara Stadler (D, 5-6, Luzern, Switzerland) has paced UMD in assists and points through six games with 2-7--9 to her credit.  Senior Jamie Kenyon (F, 5-5, Sparta, Wis.), juniors Meghan Heurtas (F, 5-6, Boynton Beach, Fla.) and Zoe Hickel (F, 5-6, Anchorage, Alaska), along with freshman Bailey Wright (F, 5-6, Anchorage, Alaska) have all produced multiple goals this year. Sophomore Kayla Black (G, 5-8, Blyth, Ont.) has started five contests in goal for UMD posting a .904 save percentage and 3.36 goals against average with one shutout.
 
Inside the MSU-UMD Series: Minnesota State holds a 6-49-4 all-time record against the Bulldogs. The Mavericks went 2-1-1 against UMD a year ago, including a 3-3 draw and eventual shootout victory, along with a 1-0 win in Mankato. MSU and Minnesota Duluth each tallied eight goals in the programs' four meetings last season.
 
Minnesota State All-Time: The MSU women's hockey program - started in 1998-99 - is currently in its 16th season of competition and has compiled a 148-339-46 (.321) record in 533 total games played. The Mavericks are in their 15th year as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and boast an 82-254-38 (.270) mark in 374 league contests.

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