What's On Tap: Minnesota State women's hockey goes on the road for a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series with No. 5/6 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Puck drop is slated for 5:07 p.m. CST on Friday and 1:07 p.m. CST on Saturday.
 
Last Time on the Ice: Minnesota State (2-7-1, 1-5-0-0 WCHA) was swept by then-No. 6 Minnesota in a two-game WCHA series on Friday and Saturday at Verizon Center. The Mavericks dropped the first game 6-1 and the second game 5-2. The series ended the Mavericks' season-long eight-game homestand.

Mighty McLaughlin: Junior forward Jordan McLaughlin (3-5--8), who tallied an assist against then-No. 6 ranked Minnesota on Saturday, leads the Mavericks with eight points this season, while tying for the team lead with three goals. She is tied for third in the WCHA with two game-winning goals.

Junior Playmaker: Junior center Corbin Boyd (2-3--5) tallied one goal and one assist over the weekend. She tied for the team lead in goals and points (2), while also recording six shots on goal in the Mavericks' series with then-No. 6 ranked Minnesota. Boyd has recorded 19 assists in her collegiate career.
 
Senior Leadership: Senior forward and alternate captain Hannah Davidson (2-1--3) scored her second goal of the season against then-No. 6 ranked Minnesota on Saturday. At the time, Davidson's goal drew the Mavericks within one goal of the Gophers with the score 3-2. Davidson leads all active Mavericks in career goals (20), assists (27) and points (47).
 
Senior forward Lindsey Coleman (3-1--4) tallied her third goal of the season against then-No. 6 ranked Minnesota on Saturday. At the time, the goal got the Mavericks on the scoreboard and tied the game at 1-1.
 
Senior forward Sara Bustad (0-2--2) distributed two assists over the weekend for her first two points of the season.
 
Phenomenal Freshman: Freshman center Brittyn Fleming (0-6--6) — the team leader in assists — tied for second amongst WCHA freshmen with 10 face-off wins last weekend. She also led all Maverick freshmen with five shots on goal against then-No. 6 ranked Minnesota.

Balanced Attack: Seven Mavericks tallied at least one point over the weekend. They are: junior forward Corbin Boyd, senior forward Sara Bustad, senior forward Lindsey Coleman, senior forward Hannah Davidson, senior defenseman Emma Wittchow, junior forward Jordan McLaughlin and sophomore defenseman Jordan Jackson.

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 second in the nation with 186 blocked shots. Senior defenseman and team captain Anna Keys is second in the WCHA with 31 blocked shots, while defenseman Jessica Kondas is tied for second in the WCHA amongst freshmen with 23. Minnesota State's season high for blocked shots is 33, which was achieved against then-No. 9 ranked Robert Morris on Oct. 7. The 33 blocked shots is the highest total by the Mavericks since they recorded 34 blocked shots at Wisconsin on Feb. 26, 2016.
 
Scouting Ohio State: No. 5/6 Ohio State (7-2-1, 5-2-1-1 WCHA) started the season by going 7-0-1 in its first eight games, before being swept by No. 1 Wisconsin in a two-game WCHA series over the weekend in Madison, Wis. The Buckeyes dropped the first game 7-0 on Saturday and the series finale 3-1 on Sunday.
 
Freshman forward Emma Maltais (5-8--13) leads all WCHA freshmen and is tied for third amongst all WCHA student-athletes in points with 13. 
 
Last season, The Mavericks finished 1-2-1 against the Buckeyes, including a 1-1 tie and 4-2 loss in Columbus, Ohio. After the 1-1 tie, the Mavericks won the shootout 4-3.
 
Looking Ahead: Minnesota State travels to face Minnesota Duluth in a two-game WCHA series on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18 in Duluth, Minn.