What's On Tap:  After splitting a non-conference series with Lindenwood University January 3-4, the Minnesota State women's hockey team returns to Western Collegiate Hockey Association play as they host St. Cloud State this Friday and Saturday.

The Mavericks 3-16-1 (0-14-0 WCHA) and the Huskies (8-8-2, 4-8-2 WCHA) will match up for the second time this season.  Minnesota State was ousted the first time around in St. Cloud by scores of 4-1 and 4-2.  Puck drop for Friday's and Saturday's games are scheduled for 2:07 p.m. at Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato.

Last Time on the Ice:  Last Sunday and Monday, Minnesota State hosted a non-conference series against Lindenwood University.  The series ultimately ended in a split with the Mavericks taking home the win in the first match and the Lady Lions winning the second contest.

In the first period of Sunday's game, Minnesota State jumped to an early advantage pumping in two goals within a minute of one another.  At the 11:18 mark, sophomore Emma Wittchow (Burnsville, Minn.) slid the puck across the point to her D-partner and fellow sophomore Victoria Lovdal (Fredrikstad, Norway).  Lovdal then snapped a shot towards the front of the net where senior Katie Johnson (Anoka, Minn.) deflected the puck underneath the glove of Lindenwood's goaltender, Nicole Hensley.  One minute later, junior Savannah Quandt (Mankato, Minn.) tallied her first marker of the season on a play that was set up by freshman Corbin Boyd (Minnetonka, Minn.) and sophomore Anna Keys (Cottage Grove, Minn.).  The Mavericks would take the 2-0 lead into the second period having been outshot 10-7.

In the second frame, the Lady Lions forged a period parallel to Minnesota State's first.  At 12:17, Shara Jasper netted her first of three goals in the series with assists coming from Emily Gunderson and Shannon Morris-Reade.  Then, not before a minute could pass, Britannia Gillanders evened things up at two goals apiece at 13:08, sliding the puck between the legs of Minnesota State goaltender, junior Brianna Quade (Newcastle, Ont.) on a breakaway opportunity.  The second period closed out at 2-2 with shots taking favor to Lindenwood at a clip of 18-17.

In the final stanza, it was Minnesota State who garnered the last celebration.  Sophomore Hannah Davidson (Kincardine, Ont.) placed herself at the top of the Lady Lions' crease where freshman Megan Hinze (Carver, Minn.) aimed the puck from the point for Davidson to tap in.  Jonhson also picked up a helper on the play, finalizing the score at 3-2 with 5:39 remaining in the game.

In Monday's game, the Mavericks tacked on their first and only goal of the game just 3:09 into the match.  Sophomore Elin Johansson (Hudiksvall, Sweden) notched the game at 1-0 when Davidson and Johnson set her up in front of the Lindenwood goal to put away for her fifth goal on the year.  Lindenwood answered with 1:41 to go in the frame, taking a 1-1 tie all the way to the third period.

When the game looked like it was going to head into overtime, LU chalked one up on the power play with 1:38 remaining in the game.  The Mavericks were unable to generate any pressure as the Lady Lions scored one more quick goal to cement the game at 3-1.  

By the end of the series, MSU had been outshot by a combined 50-47, while held to zero goals on their six power-play opportunities.  Quade produced 45 saves in the series allowing five goals.

Looking at the Huskies:  The Huskies currently hold the sixth spot in the WCHA having gone 2-2-1 in their last five contests.  Most recently their last two victories came in 2-0 and 3-0 wins over Lindenwood University.

St. Cloud is led by head coach Eric Rud who is in his second season at the helm of the Huskies program. Senior Molly Illikainen is the leading scorer for SCSU tallying 12-10--22 in 17 games played. Sophomore Brittney Anderson and freshman Julia Tylke  follow Illikainen with 13 points each. Senior Katie Fitzgerald claims the main responsibilities between the pipes producing a 2.81 goals against average with a .908 save percentage. Fitzgerald's record on the 2015-16 season stands at 7-8-2. The Huskies are averaging 2.2 goals per game while allowing 3.2 per contest.  The Huskies special teams claim a 17.5% on the man advantage (10-57) and 25.5% on the penalty kill (14-55).

Last Time Around: Minnesota State took two losses in the first half of the season to SCSU in St. Cloud, Minn., Nov. 13-14.  MSU holds a 30-33-8 record in the series with the Huskies, dating back to 1998.

Minnesota State All-Time: The MSU women's hockey program - started in 1998-99 - is currently in its 18th season of competition and has compiled a 162-387-49 (.312) record in 600 total games played. The Mavericks are in their 17th year as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and hold an 83-293-39 (.248) mark in 414 league contests.

2016 Nations Cup:   Minnesota State defensemen, junior Anna Fiegert (Landshut, Germany) and freshman Lena Duesterhoeft (Munich, Germany) have been selected to Team Germany for the 2016 Nations Cup.  Other teams competing in the tournament are Canada, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland.  So far Germany has taken a 5-1 loss to Finland and defeated Switzerland  on Wednesday 5-2. at BLZ Arena in Fussen, Germany.

Looking Ahead:  After hosting St. Cloud State this weekend, the Mavericks will take to the road to play against the #3 Minnesota Gophers January 16-17 in Minneapolis.

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