What's On Tap:  The Minnesota State women's hockey team travels south to Columbus, Ohio this weekend for a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series with Ohio State at the OSU Ice Rink Friday (7:07 p.m. ET) and Saturday (1:07 p.m. ET).
 
Minnesota State (9-17-0, 4-16-0 WCHA) looks to snap a five-game losing streak after falling 4-0 to No. 1 Minnesota in last Friday's Hockey City Classic at TCF Bank Stadium and 5-0 in the series finale back in Mankato last Sunday. Ohio State (7-12-5, 2-11-5 WCHA) enters this weekend's series having tied in each of their last three games and claimed two of those shootouts to move into sixth-place in the league, one point ahead of MSU.
 
Last Time on the Ice:  Last Friday's meeting between Minnesota State and No. 1 Minnesota marked the first outdoor college hockey game to be held on the UM campus in over 80 years. The Golden Gophers scored first on the power-play 5:24 into the first period and built on that lead with a pair of goals in the final two minutes of the second period. Minnesota tacked on an additional marker with 1:07 left in regulation to claim a 4-0 victory before 6,623 fans, the largest crowd to ever watch a women's hockey game in Minnesota. Senior Danielle Butters (London, Ont.) withstood pressure for most of the game amassing 47 saves, one shy of her career-high.
 
The two teams took a day off before concluding the home-and-home series last Sunday back at All Seasons Arena in Mankato. Minnesota senior Kelly Terry scored her first of two goals just 2:14 into the affair giving the Golden Gophers an early one-goal lead. That score held until Minnesota exploded for four additional goals in the final 6:02 of the second period, including one on the power-play, to walk away with a 5-0 win and series sweep.
 
Scouting the Buckeyes:  Ohio State stands 7-12-5 overall and 2-11-5 within the WCHA, good for 13 points and sixth-place having gone 2-1-3 thus far in 2014. Offensively, OSU averages 2.08 goals and 29.7 shots per game, while the Buckeyes are allowing 2.67 goals and 30.4 shots per game to their opponents. The Ohio State power-play owns a 13.7% (78/94) conversion rate and the penalty-kill a 78/94) success rate.
 
Head coach Nate Handrahan is in his third season leading the Buckeyes and has amassed a 42-43-12 career record with OSU. Senior Ally Tarr (F, 5-6, London, Ont.) along with juniors Kari Schmitt (D, 5-11, Canton, Mich.) and Sara Schmitt (D, 5-11, Canton, Mich.) are all tied for the team scoring lead having generated 5-12=17, 6-11=17, and 5-12=17, respectively. Junior Danielle Gagne (F, 5-6, Caledon, Ont.) is right behind with 6-10=16, while freshman Claudia Kepler (F, 5-5, Verona, Wis.) leads the team in goals with 7-2=9 to date. In goal, senior Lisa Steffes (G, 5-4, Amherstburg, Ont.) has made every start in 2014 and owns a 1.81 goals against average and .938 saves percentage with a 5-6-4 record and four shutouts for the season.
 
Inside the MSU-OSU Series: Minnesota State stands 11-47-6 all-time against the Buckeyes after sweeping OSU back in November. Seven of the last 10 meetings between the two teams have been decided by one goal or less.
 
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 154-353-46 (.320) record in 553 total games played.  The Mavericks are in their 15th year as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and hold an 86-268-38 (.268) mark in 392 league contests.

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