MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State Mavericks women's hockey team resumes play this weekend with a home-and-home series against third-ranked Minnesota. The Mavericks (1-3-0, 1-3-0 WCHA) take on the Gophers (3-1-0, 3-1-0 WCHA) in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action Thursday and Friday. Mankato will be the spot for Thursday's game before both teams head to Minneapolis to conclude the series Friday. Face-off times are scheduled for 6:07 p.m. each night.

Minnesota State All-Time

Minnesota State, which began play in 1998-99, is in its 23rd season of competition and has compiled a 197-506-70 (.254) record in 773 total games played. The Mavericks are in their 22nd year as members in the WCHA and hold a 102-399-55 (.182) record in 556 games played. 
 

Scouting Minnesota

Minnesota, currently second in the WCHA, skated to a split with #4 Ohio State to open its season and swept #6 Minnesota Duluth in week two. Senior forward Grace Zumwinkle and goaltender Lauren Bench garnered WCHA Player of the Month honors for their work over the first two weeks of the season.  Zumwinkle put up three goals and an assist in four games this season, including the Gophers' game-winning goal in their 4-0 win over the Buckeyes to open the season. Bench  was named HCA National Goaltender of the Month after leading the Gophers with a 3-1 record and facing more shots (131) and making more saves (126) than any other netminder in the nation. She finished November with a .962 save percentage and 1.26 goals against average.
 

Facing the Gophers

The Mavericks hold an all-time record of 3-93-3 against Minnesota in a series that dates back to Oct. 30, 1998. Last season, the Mavericks suffered five defeats at the hands of the Gophers. Minnesota State's last win against Minnesota came on  Jan. 20, 2007, when the Mavericks capped a weekend sweep over the in-state rival with a 4-3 win at All Seasons Arena in Mankato.
 

Shoot for the Stars

After being shutout 1-0 in its first game at St. Cloud State, Minnesota State set  season-high marks in goals (four) and shots (42) to earn its first win of the season, 4-2 over SCSU. In the series (Nov. 27-28), MSU outshot SCSU 79-35.
 

Mighty Fine Freshmen

Freshmen forwards Jamie Nelson and Sydney Langseth were instrumental parts in the Mavericks securing their first win of the season. Nelson recorded her first three collegiate points which included two goals in Saturday's 4-2 win over St. Cloud State. Likewise, Nelson's wing partner, Langseth recorded with her first three points. Langseth's scoring line included a goal and a pair of assists. 
 

Times Two 

Junior forward Claire Butorac assisted on both of Nelson's tallies in the Nov. 28 4-2 win over SCSU. Butorac's first and second helpers of the season puts her tied for team-high with pair of assists.
 

Aggressive Ackervik

Sophomore defenseman Charlotte Ackervik scored the gamewinner for the Mavericks in the 4-2 win over the Huskies, Nov. 28. Now with a goal and an assist, Ackervik leads MSU defenseman in scoring with two points and in shooting with 13 shots on net this season. 
 

To be Frank...

Sophomore goaltender Calla Frank (1-3) stopped 32-of-35 shots over the weekend, including 21 saves to secure the Mavericks' first win of the season, 4-2, Nov. 28. Over the weekend, Frank allowed three goals and boasted a .914 save percentage.
 

Looking Ahead

Minnesota State hosts Bemidji State next week (Dec. 17-18) to close out the 2020 portion of the regular season. Game times are scheduled for 2:07 p.m. at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.

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