What's On Tap: Minnesota State women's hockey begins the 2017-18 season with a two-game nonconference series against Lindenwood at Lindenwood Ice Center in Wentzville, Mo. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., on Friday and 6:30 p.m., on Saturday.
 
Looking Back at 2016-17: Minnesota State (0-0-0) finished 2016-17 with a 7-26-4 record, including a 4-21-3 Western Collegiate Hockey Association mark. Minnesota State's season ended with a series loss to then-No. 1 ranked Wisconsin in the WCHA Quarterfinals — contested on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wis.    
 
Minnesota State's seven wins in 2016-17 were more than its win totals of 2014-15 and 2015-16 combined (6). The Mavericks' win total was also their highest since the 2013-14 season when they won 13 games. The four WCHA wins were also the most since 2013-14 when the Mavericks won seven WCHA contests.
 
2016-17 Highlights: The Mavericks upset then No. 3-ranked Minnesota Duluth 2-1 on Dec. 10, 2016 inside Verizon Center. The win was the Mavericks' first triumph over a ranked opponent since a 3-0 victory over then-No. 2 ranked Wisconsin in the WCHA Quarterfinals on March 1, 2014.
 
On Nov. 19, 2016, the Mavericks defeated Ohio State 2-1 for their first WCHA victory since a 5-1 win over St. Cloud State on Feb. 2, 2015 ­— ending a 46-game WCHA regular-season winless streak. The win was also head coach John Harrington's first career WCHA victory.  
  Top Returners: The Mavericks return their top-five leading scorers from a year ago. They are: junior forward Emily Antony (7-7--14), senior forward Lindsey Coleman (5-8--13), junior forward Corbin Boyd (2-11--13), senior forward Hannah Davidson (4-8--12) and senior defenseman Anna Keys (3-8--11).
 
Captains: Senior defenseman Anna Keys is the 2017-18 team captain and senior forward Hannah Davidson is the alternate captain.
 
Keys, a three-time letterwinner from Cottage Grove, Minn., has garnered eight goals and 22 assists for 30 points in 107 games as a Maverick. After recording 11 points in 2016-17, Keys ranks fifth all-time in points by a Maverick defenseman. Keys, who previously served as an alternate captain in 2016-17, earned WCHA Defensive Player of the Week and WCHA Scholar Athlete honors in 2016-17.
 
Davidson, a three-time letterwinner from Kincardine, Ont., is the active Maverick leader in goals (18), assists (26) and points (44). Davidson, who tallied four goals and eight assists for 12 points last season, earned WCHA Scholar Athlete honors in 2016-17.  
 
New Horns: Minnesota State welcomes one transfer and four freshman to the 2017-18 roster. Junior forward Rebekah Kolstad returns to her hometown of Mankato, Minn., after spending the past two seasons at University of North Dakota. Kolstad set collegiate career highs in goals (6), assists (5) and points (11) in 2016-17.
 
The four freshmen are: defenseman Jessica Kondas, and forwards Brittyn Fleming, Mariah Gardner and Tristen Truax. 
 
Scouting Lindenwood: The Lions (0-2-0) opened 2017-18 with a pair of losses (3-1, 4-0) at No. 2 Wisconsin on Friday and Saturday in Madison, Wis. The Lions' lone goal against Wisconsin was scored by freshman defenseman Mariah Hinds.
 
Lindenwood, which finished 2016-17 with a 6-25-2 (3-16-1 College Hockey America) record, came to Verizon Center for a two-game set last season. The Mavericks dropped the first game 5-1 on Nov. 25 and the two teams tied 1-1 on Nov. 26. The Mavericks lost the shootout 2-1. 
 
Looking Ahead: Minnesota State takes the ice for its first home games of the season against No. 10 Robert Morris at 2:07 p.m., on Oct. 7 and 12:07 p.m., on Oct. 8.