What's On Tap:  Coming off its best season under fifth-year head coach Eric Means, the Minnesota State women's hockey team looks to build upon that success in 2013-14. The Mavericks begin the new season hosting No. 7/8 Mercyhurst at All Seasons Arena this weekend.
 
The series kicks off Friday night at 6:07 p.m., before wrapping up Saturday afternoon at 1:07 p.m. In honor of this weekend's homecoming festivities at Minnesota State, there will be no admission fee for Saturday's contest.
 
Looking Back at Last Year:  Minnesota State finished 10-21-5 overall a year ago and posted a 6-17-5-1 mark in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play, good for a sixth-place finish which is the highest during Means' tenure.  Senior Tracy McCann (F, 5-9, Lakewood, Ohio) is the Mavericks' top returning point scorer from last year after she posted 15 goals, 11 assists and 26 points. Junior Kathleen Rogan (F, 5-5, Vancouver, B.C.) is the only other returning Maverick who reached the 20-point plateau as she registered six goals and 14 assists a year ago.  Additionally, senior Danielle Butters (G, 5-8, London, Ontario) is back between the pipes after performing as arguably one of the top-three netminders in the league last year. Butters turned in career-highs in goals against average (3.15), save percentage (.913) and wins (9).  She also produced career-highs in shutouts (4), saves (1,025) and minutes played (1,865:30) which rank second, third and fourth, respectively, in the MSU single-season record book.
 
Looking at the Lakers:  Mercyhurst is coming off a 2012-13 campaign that saw the Lakers finish 29-7-1 overall and 17-3-0 in College Hockey America en route to collecting the CHA regular-season and tournament titles. MU knocked off No. 2 Cornell in the NCAA Quarterfinals before falling 4-1 to Boston College in the NCAA Women's Frozen Four semi-finals.  Minnesota State was the only WCHA squad to face the Lakers last season. Offensively, Mercyhurst averaged 4.1 goals per game and 37.0 shot per game a year ago. Defensively, the Lakers allowed 1.8 goals per game and 22.6 shots per game on average. The MU power-play connected at 20.5%, while its penalty-kill was effective 86.8% of the time it took the ice.
 
The Lakers are guided by head coach Michael Sisti who will begin his 15th year at the helm of the program and owns a 353-99-30 overall career record with a 144-9-11 ledger in CHA competition.  MU returns its top-four scorers from a year ago including senior Christine Bestland (F, 5-9, Brunkild, Manitoba) who produced 28-44--72 last year. Sophomores Jenna Dingeldein (F, 6-1, Toronto, Ontario) and Emily Janiga (F, 5-10, East Aurona, N.Y.) each surpassed the 40-point plateau last year registering 15-28--43 and 19-21--40, respectively. In net, junior Amanda Makela (G, 5-9, Thunder Bay, Ontario) recorded a 2.01 goals against average, a .911 save percentage, and a 9-5-1 record last year.
 
Last Time Around: Minnesota State and Mercyhurst tangled twice in 2012-13 in Erie, Pa. The Lakers swept the weekend series with victories of 10-1 and 3-1, respectively.
 
Strong Special  Teams: As a team, Minnesota State finished seventh in the nation in combined special teams at 55.3% in 2012-13.   The Mavericks boasted the 11th-best power-play (19.8%) and owned a 24th-rated penalty-kill unit (80.5%). The 19.8% power-play was the best percentage in program history.
 
Welcome to Mankato:  Minnesota State welcomes five newcomers to this year's squad with four freshman and one transfer. Freshman Anna-Maria Fiegert (D, 5-9, Landshut, Germany), Savannah Quandt (F, 5-9, Mankato, Minn.), Sara Bustad (D, 5-7, Stillwater, Minn.), and Carina Randazzo (D, 5-10, Couer d'Alene, Idaho) will all begin their collegiate careers with the Mavericks this weekend, while sophomore Lauren Kirwan (F, 5-5, Syracuse, N.Y.) is entering her first year at MSU after transferring from New Hampshire.
 
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 145-336-46 (.319) record in 527 total games played. The Mavericks are in their 15th year as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and boast an 82-252-38 (.271) mark in 372 league contests.