What's On Tap:  After claiming three-of-four home contests last week, the Minnesota State women's hockey team continues conference action on the road this weekend when it heads north to face the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Friday (6:07 p.m.) and Saturday (6:07 p.m.).
 
MSU (9-13-0, 4-12-0 WCHA) has won six of its last 10 games and concluded its non-conference schedule with a 5-1-0 ledger after sweeping Lindenwood a week ago. Picking up points will be crucial this weekend as Minnesota Duluth (9-8-3, 7-6-3-2 WCHA) stands fourth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with 26 total points. This weekend's two-game set will be the Bulldogs first action since Dec. 13-14, 2013.
 
Last Time on the Ice:  The Mavericks claimed a 1-0 first-period lead in the series opener with Bemidji State last Saturday on senior Tracy McCann's (Lakewood, Ohio) seventh goal of the season. Senior Lauren Barnes (Burnsville, Minn.) dished to junior Shelby Moteyunas (Cicero, N.Y.) across the blue line, before McCann re-directed Moteyunas' shot with a fantastic tip in front at 14:56. Bemidji State tied the game at one each just 43 seconds into the second period on junior Alexandra Citrowske's wrist shot from the slot. That score held until 15:28 of the third period when Barnes hit senior Kari Lundberg (Woodbury, Minn.) with a break-out pass from the defensive zone, and Lundberg streaked into the slot and beat freshman Brittni Mowat high on the glove side giving MSU a 2-1 lead it would not surrender. Sophomore Erin Krichiver (Chicago, Ill.) was fantastic in goal stopping 24 shots to earn her second straight victory.
 
The series finale was deadlocked at 0-0 through two periods with Minnesota State outshooting the Beavers by the slimmest of margins, 23-22. The tie was broken on the second BSU power-play of the third period when a shot from the point when tipped by sophomore Stephanie Anderson but saved by MSU senior Danielle Butters (London, Ont.). However, junior Kristine Grenier picked up the rebound on the left side and tucked it into the net before Butters could recover for the contest's decisive goal. Butters was outstanding in goal for the Mavericks totaling 32 saves, including 15 in the second period, while Mowat was equally strong in net for BSU recording a game-high 33 stops.
 
Scouting the Bulldogs:  Minnesota Duluth stands 9-8-3 overall and 7-6-3 in WCHA play after claiming a pair of 2-1 road victories over St. Cloud State last time out. Offensively, UMD is averaging 33.8 shots and 2.70 goals per game, while allowing 28.4 shots and 2.20 goals per game to its opponents. The Bulldog power-play sits at 17.1% (13/76) this season, while the penalty kill owns a sparkling 89.3% (75/84) success rate.
 
Minnesota Duluth is under the direction of 15th-year head coach Shannon Miller who owns a 357-123-42 career record, including five NCAA championships. Junior Jenna McParland (F, 5-9, Schreiber, Ont.) leads the team in scoring with 9-13=22, and senior Jamie Kenyon (F, 5-5, Sparta, Wis.) has paced the team in goals and totaled 10-10=20 this season. Additionally, freshman center Ashleigh Brykaliuk (F, 5-7, Brandon, Man.) is having a strong rookie campaign in which she's produced 5-8=13. Between the pipes, sophomore Kayla Black (G, 5-8, Blyth, Ont.) owns a 2.19 goals against average and .925 saves percentage with an 8-6-3 record and three shutouts in 18 starts this season.
 
Inside the MSU-UMD Series: The Mavericks stand 6-51-4 all-time against Minnesota Duluth after dropping a pair of games (6-2, 3-1) earlier this season in Mankato. However, MSU went 2-1-1 against UMD a year ago with a series split in Duluth.
 
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 154-349-46 (.320) record in 549 total games played.  The Mavericks are in their 15th year as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and hold an 86-264-38 (.270) mark in 388 league contests.