Mankato, Minn. ---  The Minnesota State women's hockey team is swept by No. 2 Minnesota in the WCHA opening series 7-1 Saturday afternoon at Mankato Civic Center.

The loss drops the Mavericks record to 2-2-0 (0-2-0 WCHA) and the win improves the Gophers record to 4-0-0 (2-0-0 WCHA).  

The Gophers took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission for the second straight day. Sophomore forward Taylor Heise put the puck in the upper right corner of the goal from straight on after freshman netminder Calla Frank made the first save. Sophomore forward Catie Skaja scored the second goal for Minnesota to take the two-goal advantage.

In the second period Minnesota doubled its lead to 4-0 after goals at the 6:34 and 17:43 minute marks. Senior winger Alex Woken scored the first goal with senior forward Sarah Potomak scoring the second on a power-play opportunity. Minnesota State killed two out of three penalties in the period with the fourth penalty being cut short by a Minnesota penalty.
 
Minnesota State scored its first goal of the series four minutes into the third period, while playing four-on-four. Double penalties had been given out to both teams and freshman blueliner Charlotte Akervik took advantage. Her second goal of the season came after Akervik forced a turnover deep in Gopher territory, skated around one defender and went five-hole against freshman netminder Makayla Pahl. Minnesota also scored a goal, while playing four-on-four hockey with junior defenseman Emily Brown scoring the puck. Woken and Skaja both scored their second goal of the game in the back half of the final period with Woken's being a power-play goal.

Frank (1-1-0) made 32 saves and allowed seven goals in the loss. Minnesota's senior netminder Sydney Scobee (3-0-0) finished with 19 saves and no goals allowed in two periods of play. Pahl came in and played the third period, making 12 stops and allowing one goal.

The Mavericks, who were outshot by the Gophers 39-32, went zero-for-six on the power-play, while Minnesota converted on two of four chances with the man advantage.

The Mavericks will hit the road again next weekend up to Duluth, Minn. The games against the Bulldogs will be on Oct. 11-12 with games beginning at 3:07 p.m., both days.

Head coach John Harrington commented following the game.