Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State women's hockey will travel to Madison, Wis., to face to #2 Wisconsin Badgers. Games will be played on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 2:07 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 22nd season of competition and has compiled a 189-487-66 (.299) record in 742 total games played. The Mavericks are in their 21st year as members in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and hold a 116-387-53 (.256) record in 556 games played.

Last Time on the Ice: Minnesota State (6-4-2, 2-4-2-2 WCHA) swept Merrimack in a nonconference series at home on Nov. 1-2. The Mavericks earned 4-3 and 5-3 victories to extend their unbeaten streak to six games, which is one behind the longest in team history at seven.

In game one, the Warriors jumped out to a 2-0 lead by scoring at the 4:38 and 7:21 marks. Senior forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis scored the first goal after converting on the breakaway and then freshman winger Dani Castino scored the second goal. MSU got on the board at the 11:13 mark when sophomore winger Brooke Bryant out hustled the Warriors down the ice to hit a slap shot from the right face-off circle for her first career short handed goal. The Mavericks tied the game up less than a minute later as junior forward Mariah Gardner gathered a loose puck and put it in the back of the net. MSU took it's first lead of the game 7:49 into the third period as Kelsey King got the puck at the right face-off circle and went top shelf for her first goal of her collegiate career. The Mavericks extended their lead at the 15:46 mark with Gardner scoring her second goal of the game, and eventual game winner, in a scrum in front of the net. The Warriors pulled within a goal on the power play with junior forward Megan Fergusson being credited with the goal before falling.

In game two, the Warriors scored first as Grant-Mentis scored on a breakaway, two minutes into the game. The Mavericks answered at the 5:45 mark as sophomore winger Madison Oelkers picked up the puck deep in the defensive zone and went end-to-end. MSU took the 2-1 lead at the 8:07 mark as sophomore blueliner Anna Wilgren received the puck in the slot and scored. The Warriors evened the score on a five-on-three opportunity with senior blueliner Chloe Cook scoring the power play goal at the 17:23 mark. The Mavericks regained the lead at the 11:34 mark in the second period as sophomore winger Claire Butorac fired a wrister from the right dot, going top shelf. Minnesota State extended the lead to 4-2 at the 10:36 mark in the third period as Wilgren scored her second goal of the game, hitting the crossbar and the back of the net. Merrimack pulled within a goal again as freshman winger Katie Kaufman scored an unassisted goal after a Maverick turnover. King scored the final goal for the Mavericks on an empty net with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

In net, sophomore Abigail Levy (3-2-1) made the start in game one, making 19 saves in the win. Freshman Calla Frank (3-2-1) made 20 saves in the game two win.

WCHA Players of the Week: Anna Wilgren was named WCHA Defenseman of the Week after scoring two goals and collecting two assists against Merrimack. Kelsey King was named WCHA Rookie of the Week after collecting five points on two goals and three assists against Merrimack. 

Scouting #2 Wisconsin: The Badgers (10-1-1, 4-1-1 WCHA) most recently lost game one to Minnesota 4-2 and then tied in game two 2-2, losing in the shootout. 

The Badger's offense is led by junior forward Daryl Watts, who leads the team with 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points. Sophomore forward Sophie Shirley also has 10 goals on the season to go along with 14 assists for 24 points.

In net, Wisconsin features senior Kristen Campbell (9-1-1) who has started 11 of the 12 games. She has a 1.29 GAA, .924 save percentage, 159 saves and three shutouts on the season.

Facing #2 Wisconsin: The Mavericks have an all-time record of 2-86-3 against the Badgers. In the most recent match-up last season, UW swept the road series by the scores of 7-2 and 4-1.
 
Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will return home to face Bemidji State on Nov. 22-23. The puck will drop on both days at 2:07 p.m.