MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State women's hockey will play No. 2 Minnesota for the first time this season as the team resumes WCHA action following winter break and the Minnesota Cup. Games will be on Jan. 11-12 at 7:07 p.m., and 3:07 p.m., respectively.
 
Minnesota State All-Time: The MSU women's hockey program, which started in 1998-99, is currently in its 21st season of competition and has compiled a 184-472-61 (.299) record in 717 total games played. The Mavericks are in their 20th year as members in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and hold a 114-374-48 (.257) in 536 games played.

Last Time on the Ice: Minnesota State (8-8-4, 3-7-2-1 WCHA) traveled to the twin cities to participate in the inaugural Minnesota Cup this past weekend. The Mavericks lost third period leads in both games that resulted in a 2-2 tie against St. Cloud State on Saturday and a 5-3 loss against Minnesota Duluth on Sunday.

On Saturday, Minnesota State scored both goals in the second period to take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. Seniors Rebekah Kolstad and Corbin Boyd lit the lamp in the second period. Kolstad's goal came off a face-off win when she received a pass from below the red line, in the center of the ice and put it in between the legs of the SCSU goaltender. Boyd's goal came with virtually no time left on the clock when she fired the puck from below the red line and it struck a SCSU player and then the goaltenders skate to end up in the back of the net. The Huskies scored a goal with an extra attacker late in the third period to force overtime then eventually a shootout. SCSU ended up winning the shootout 1-0 to move on and face Minnesota in the Minnesota Cup championship.

The Mavericks dropped the third place game when they were again up 3-1 heading into the third period. Goals by sophomore Brittyn Fleming, freshman Anna Wilgren and junior McKenzie Sederberg in the first two periods gave MSU the 3-1 advantage. Minnesota Duluth went on to score four goals in the third period, one goal was an empty net, to claim the 5-3 win over Minnesota State.

In net, freshman Abigail Levy (8-8-4) started both games for the Mavericks collecting 53 saves on 59 opportunities. Levy ended the weekend with a .898 save percentage and a 2.90 goals-against average. 

Scouting Minnesota: The Gophers (19-2-1, 9-2-1-0 WCHA) are coming off a Minnesota Cup championship win heading into the match-up with the Mavericks. UM defeated UMD 4-3 in overtime in the first game of the cup and then went on to defeat SCSU 5-1 in the championship. Minnesota also currently sits on top of the WCHA in the standings, holding a one point advantage over Wisconsin. 

The Gophers offense features senior Nicole Shammel who is tied for first in total points in the WCHA this season with Emma Maltais from Ohio State (9-19--28). Sophomore Grace Zumwinkle currently leads the WCHA in goals scored this season (16-11--27).

In net, Minnesota features sophomore Alex Gulstene (14-0-0) who has started 14 of the 22 games for the Gophers. She currently holds a 1.70 goals-against average, a .922 save percentage and has 282 saves so far this season with two shutouts.

Facing Minnesota: All-time, the Mavericks are 3-84-3 against the Gophers, dating back to 1998. The last time the two teams met was Jan. 26-27, last season where UM won both games by a score of 4-2 and 2-0 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will be on the road next weekend as they will play St. Cloud State in the first game of a split series on Jan. 18 starting at 3:07 p.m. The Mavericks will then travel to Bemidji, Minn., to participate in an outdoor game for Hockey Day in Minnesota with the puck dropping at 1:00 p.m.