What's On Tap:  After falling in a 2-1 loss to No. 8 North Dakota last Friday, Minnesota State rivaled back to a 5-5 tie Saturday evening in Grand Forks, N.D.  

The Mavericks, now 3-21-4 (0-18-3 WCHA), take on Minnesota Duluth (10-17-1, 7-14-1 WCHA), a team who has lost seven of their last eight. In their first meeting with UMD this season, Minnesota State fell to the Bulldogs at clips of 4-2 and 4-0 in Duluth, Minn.

Last Time on the Ice:  Last Friday and Saturday, the Mavericks Skated their way to a 2-1 loss and 5-5 tie with the eighth-ranked Fighting Hawks of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

In Friday night's contest, it took until the second period before either team was able to produce a goal.  UND struck first at the 7:30 mark of the second frame on the power play when Jordan Hampton tallied her second goal of the season for the Fighting Hawks.  

Minnesota State tied things up at 9:35 of the third stanza when junior Savannah Quandt (Mankato, Minn.) ripped a backhander past UND netminder Shelby Amsley-Benzie on their second of two man advantage opportunities.  Just when the momentum started to swing in Minnesota State's favor, North Dakota took their second lead of the game 37 seconds later as Layla Marvin tallied what proved to  be the game-winning goal at 10:02 of the final period.

Maverick netminder, junior Brianna Quade (Newcastle, Ont.), added to her season saves total (now 749/T-2nd NCAA) Friday night stopping 36 of 38 Fighting Hawk shots.

In Saturday's contest, it would be Minnesota State who got on the board first as sophomore Lindsey Coleman (Burnsville, Minn.) scored her second goal of the season with senior Katie Johnson (Anoka, Minn.) and freshman Emily Antony (Plymouth, Minn.) recording helpers.  UND would tie the game up for the first time at the 6:29 mark of the first period when Megan Dufault notched her seventh of the season.  The Mavericks jumped to a two goal advantage at the 10:34 and 11:46 marks of the period with junior Anna Fiegert (Landshut, Germany) scoring on the man advantage and Jordan McLaughlin (Grand Rapids, Minn.) scoring her first of two in the game.  North Dakota would cut the lead to one as Halli Krzyaniak put home her first goal of the game past MSU goaltender, sophomore Katie Bidulka (Oakville, Ont.). to close the first period.

In the second stanza, UND would jump on the board nearly four minutes into the frame as Amy Menke tallied on the shorthand tying the game at 3-3.  Freshman Megan Hinze (Carver, Minn.) recorded her first collegiate goal at 36 second later on the remaining Minnesota State power play with a low blast from the point.  Krzyzaniak would tie the game up again for North Dakota at 10:31 to close out the period's scoring.  

In the final-regulation frame, McLaughlin put the Mavericks back up at the 4:14 mark with her second marker of the game and her fifth of the season.  with just 2:42 remaining in the third period, Becca Kohler tallied her 11th goal of the year and tied the game up for UND for the fourth and final time throughout the match.

A scoreless overtime period would lead the conference foes to a shootout where UND's Sam LaShomb would net the only tally.

Bidulka ended the match with a career-high 37 saves while Antony recorded three assists, Mclaughlin generated three points (2-1--3) and Johnson recorded two helpers throughout the game.

Scouting Minnesota Duluth:  The Bulldogs are led by first-year head coach Maura Crowell.  Thus far, Crowell has led Minnesota Duluth to a 10-17-1 overall record and a 7-14-1 mark in the WCHA.  UMD's scoring is charged by juniors Ashleigh Brykaliuk (10-23--33) and Lara Stalder (14-14--28) with senior Michela Cava (12-13--25) on their heels.  Netminding has been split for the Bulldogs this season with freshman Maddie Rooney  (.902sv/2.96ga) taking the load, boasting a record of 5-10-1 and senior Kayla Black (.916sv/2.36ga) holding a record of 4-4-1.

Inside the MSU-UMD Series: This weekend's series between Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State will mark the 70th and 71st meetings of the programs.  Earlier this season, Minnesota Duluth took two from the Mavericks by scores of 4-2 and 4-0 in Duluth.

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 162-392-52 (.309) record in 608 total games played. The Mavericks are in their 17th year as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and hold an 83-298-42 (.247) mark in 422 league contests.

Picking Up the Pace:  Over the last six games Minnesota State has played, they have looked to their depth in providing some point production. Freshman Emily Antony has put up 11 points (3-7--10) in the last six games and eight (3-5--8) in the four.  Right along side Antony is Jordan McLaughlin scoring five points (3-2--5) in the last four contests, Lindsey Coleman who has tallied four points (1-3--4) in the last four games and three in the last two (3 assists), and Katie Johnson who has tallied four points (1-3--4) in the last three games.

Looking Ahead:  After hosting Minnesota Duluth this weekend in Mankato, Minnesota State will travel to Madison, Wis., to play No. 2 University of Wisconsin for their last roadie of the 2015-16 regular season.]

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