Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State women's hockey will play its 2019-20 home opening series against WCHA opponent No. 2 Minnesota at Mankato Civic Center. Games will be played on Friday and Saturday with the puck being dropped at 7:07 p.m., and 2:07 p.m., respectively.
 
Minnesota State All-Time: The MSU women's hockey program, which started in 1998-99, is currently in its 22nd season of competition and has compiled a 187-483-64 (.298) record in 734 total games played. The Mavericks are in their 21st year as members in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and hold a 114-383-51 (.255) record in 548 games played.

Last Time on the Ice: Minnesota State (2-0-0, 0-0-0-0 WCHA) swept the Engineers of Rensselaer in Troy, N.Y., to begin the 2019-20 campaign. The Mavericks collected two shutout victories by the scores of 4-0 and 3-0.

In game one, Minnesota State jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals by new freshmen in the first period of play. Freshman defenseman Charlotte Akervik scored her first collegiate goal when junior forward Mariah Gardner gathered the rebound from a saved shot and fed Akervik on the backside. MSU extended its lead to 2-0 when freshman forward Kennedy Bobyck also scored her first collegiate goal. Bobyck gathered the sophomore winger Claire Butorac face-off win and flipped a wrister right under pipe from a bad angle in a four-on-four situation. The Mavericks added another goal in the second period to extend the lead to 3-0. Gardner picked up the puck right outside the crease near the red line on the right ride and went top shelf for her first goal of the season. Junior forward Brittyn Fleming scored the final goal as she grabbed a rebound from a senior captain Emily Antony saved shot and beat the Engineer netminder low glove side.

In game two, Gardner started the scoring for the Mavericks in the second period after both teams went scoreless in the first. Right after a power-play ended for Minnesota State, King found Gardner close to the net as she chipped in her second goal of the season. Gardner was again the benefactor as she scored her third goal of the season, and second of the game, ten seconds into a power-play. Butorac found the back of the net for the first time this season for the final goal of the game on her second career short-handed goal. 

In net, sophomore Abigail Levy (1-0-0) made the start in game one and collected her sixth career shutout by making 14 saves. Freshman Calla Frank (1-0-0) was called on to start her first collegiate game in the finale and posted a shutout, while making 13 saves.
 
WCHA Weekly Honors: Mariah Gardner and Kelsey King were named the WCHA Forward and Rookie Players of the Week after their performances against RPI. Gardner finished the series with three goals, including a power-play goal, and an assist for four points. King had two assists each game for a total of four in the series.

Scouting Minnesota: The Gophers are coming off a season where they were NCAA runner-ups to Wisconsin and have started this season 2-0-0. Minnesota swept Colgate by the scores of 2-0 and 8-1 in Ridder Arena.

The Gopher offense returns junior Grace Zumwinkle who lead the team in goals with a 25-16--41 stat line. Sophomore Taylor Heise also returns after collecting 35 points by scoring 13 goals and having 22 assists.

In net, Minnesota brings back senior Sydney Scobee and junior Alex Gulstene. Gulstene finished with 20 wins and Scobee had 12 last season, combining for a 1.76 GAA and a .922 save percentage.

Facing Minnesota: All-time, the Mavericks are 3-88-3 against the Gophers. In the pervious matchup last season, UM swept MSU at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn., by the scores of 3-1 and 3-2 (OT) on Feb. 15-16.

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will hit the road against WCHA opponent Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 11-12. Games will begin at 3:07 p.m., both days in Duluth, Minn., at Amsoil Arena.