What's On Tap: Minnesota State women's hockey welcomes No. 9 Robert Morris to Verizon Center this weekend for its first home series of the 2017-18 season. The games are scheduled for 2:07 p.m., Saturday and 12:07 p.m., Sunday in Mankato, Minn.

Looking Back at Last Week: Minnesota State (1-0-1) opened up the 2017-18 season with a 4-1 win over Lindenwood on Friday. The four goals on Friday night were the most for the Mavericks since a 5-5 tie at North Dakota on Jan. 30, 2016. On Saturday night, the Mavericks and the Lions skated to a 2-2 tie.
 
Back to Blocking Shots: The Mavericks finished last season second in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and fourth in the nation with 568 blocked shots. Minnesota State has picked up where it left off — leading the WCHA and ranking third in the nation in blocked shots after totaling 36 last weekend. Senior defenseman and team captain Anna Keys enters the week leading the WCHA with nine blocked shots.

Mighty McLaughlin: Junior forward Jordan McLaughlin (2-1--3) posted a career-high two goals, including a short-handed game-winning goal in Minnesota State's 4-1 win on Friday night. It was the first short-handed goal for Minnesota State since Oct. 23, 2015. McLaughlin's goal was also the first short-handed goal in NCAA DI women's hockey this season. McLaughlin's second goal was scored into an empty net to close out the game. The empty-net goal was the first for the Mavericks since Feb. 7, 2014. McLaughlin also had one assist in the season-opening victory for a career-best three points on the evening.
 
Cool Like Conway: Senior forward Amanda Conway (2-0--2) scored both goals for the Mavericks in their 2-2 tie at Lindenwood on Saturday. It was the first multi-goal game of Conway's collegiate career.

First Point: Sophomore forward Taylor Gulenchyn (1-0--1) and freshman forward Brittyn Fleming (0-2--2) each tallied their first-collegiate point in Minnesota State's 4-1 win at Lindenwood on Friday. Gulenchyn scored her first-career goal and Fleming garnered her first-career assist. 
 
Scouting Robert Morris: No. 9 Robert Morris (0-0-0) has yet to play a regular-season game in 2017-18. Last season, the Colonials finished 24-5-4, including a 15-3-2 record in College Hockey America play. Robert Morris won the CHA Tournament before their season was ended with a 7-0 loss to then-No.1 ranked Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Colonials return their two-leading point-getters from a season ago. Senior forward Brittany Howard, who recorded 20 goals and 30 assists for 50 points, led the team in assists and points. Sophomore forward Jaycee Gebhard led Robert Morris in goals (22), and was second in assists (24) and points (50).
 
The Mavericks are 3-3-1 all-time against the Colonials, but the two teams have not met on the ice since 2011 when they split a two-game series in Moon Township, Pa., on Oct. 14-15. The Mavericks lost the first game 4-3 before rebounding to win the second game 3-1. 
 
Looking Ahead: Minnesota State continues a season-long eight-game homestand with a two-game series against No. 1 Wisconsin on Oct. 13-14.