What's On Tap:  Minnesota State returns to Western Collegiate Hockey Association action this weekend looking to build on a home sweep of Ohio State two weeks ago when it travels north to battle St. Cloud State Friday (7:07 p.m.) and Saturday (3:07 p.m.) inside the newly renovated Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
 
This weekend's series will mark the Mavericks' (5-9-0, 2-8-0 WCHA) last contests away from Mankato until Jan. 10. St. Cloud State (2-11-3, 1-7-2-1 WCHA) is tied with MSU for seventh in the league and also returns to conference play this weekend after suffering a pair of home losses to Rensselaer a week ago by scores of 4-1 and 2-1.
 
Last Time on the Ice:  Freshman Savannah Quandt (Mankato, Minn.) netted her first career goal 12:03 into the first period of MSU's series opener with Ohio State two weeks ago putting MSU in front, 1-0. After a Buckeye second-period goal, the Mavericks retaliated with three third-period goals from three different seniors. Kelsie Scott (Souris, Man.) redirected senior Lauren Barnes' (Burnsville, Minn.) shot from the point on the power-play at 4:57; before Kari Lundberg (Woodbury, Minn.) ripped a slap shot inside the right post at 7:48, and Nicole Germaine (Mississauga, Ont.) added an empty-net goal to secure MSU's 4-1 win.
 
The Mavericks completed their first sweep of Ohio State since Nov. 12-13, 2010 and first at home since Nov. 9-10, 2007 with a 2-1 victory in the series finale. Junior Kathleen Rogan (Vancouver, B.C.) tucked her fifth power-play goal of the year under the crossbar 14:16 into the second period, then senior Tracy McCann (Lakewood, Ohio) tallied the game-winner from the slot at 3:53 of the final period. Senior Danielle Butters (London, Ont.) was outstanding all weekend for the Mavericks totaling 79 saves in the series, including 24 on the penalty-kill, as she did not allow an even-strength goal in the two-game set.
 
Scouting the Huskies:  St. Cloud State enters this weekend's series with a 2-11-3 overall record and 1-7-2-1 mark, good for six points, in WCHA play. The Huskies have dropped five of their last six contests and return to league play for the first time since Nov. 9. Offensively, SCSU is averaging 1.38 goals and 25.6 shots per game; while it is surrendering 2.94 goals and 37.4 shots per game to its opponents.The Huskie power-play has converted at a 10.6% (7/66) efficiency to date, and the SCSU penalty-kill has proven effective 81.2% (56/69) of the time this season.

St. Cloud State is under the guidance of eighth-year head coach Jeff Giesen who sports a 77-162-33 career record and 51-134-23 mark in WCHA competition. A pair of seniors Julia Gilbert (F, 5-11, Hermantown, Minn.) and Molli Mott (F, 5-5, Colorado Springs, Colo.) have paced the SCSU offense to date as both have totaled 5-6=11 to tie for the team lead in all three categories. Junior Abby Ness (F, 5-6, Roseau, Minn.) is right behind with 3-4=7, and senior Michelle Burke (D, 5-6, London, Ont.) is third on the squad with five assists. Junior Julie Friend (G, 5-8, Minnetonka, Minn.) has generated a .929 save percentage and 2.78 goals against average with one shutout in 10 starts between the pipes as she has seen the majority of time in net for SCSU.
 
Inside the MSU-SCSU Series: Minnesota State is nearly dead-even with St. Cloud State standing 27-28-6 in a series dating back to 1998. MSU ended 1-2-1 against the Huskies last season with a series split up in St. Cloud. The Mavericks are 3-6-1 in the two programs' last 10 meetings and 15-14-3 all-time at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
 
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 150-345-46 (.320) record in 541 total games played. The Mavericks are in their 15th year as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and hold an 84-260-38 (.270) mark in 382 league contests.

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