Due Up

Minnesota State (3-1-0, 1-1-0 WCHA) hosts Lindenwood (0-4-0, 0-0-0 CHA) for a nonconference series this weekend. Face-offs are scheduled for 3:01 p.m., Friday, and 2:01 p.m., Saturday, at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.


Last Weekend

Last weekend, MSU split a series in Mankato vs. #5/6 Minnesota Duluth. After suffering a 7-0 defeat on Friday, the Mavericks came from down one goal to defeat the Bulldogs, Saturday.

On Friday, the Bulldogs scored a pair of goals in each of the first two periods before piling on three more in the final period for a 7-0 victory over the Mavericks during MSU's home opener.

Saturday marked the Mavericks' first victory over a Top-25 ranked opponent since they defeated the nation's best team, Wisconsin, 3-1 on Feb. 8, 2019, in Mankato. It also marked MSU's first victory over the Bulldogs dating back to the 2016-17 season when the Mavericks defeated UMD 2-1 on Dec. 10, 2016, in Mankato.


Fleming Finesses

Senior forward Brittyn Fleming returned to Minnesota State's roster this season after cashing in on her extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA to last year's student athletes who had seasons impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oregon, Wis., native tied for the team lead in playmaking last season with seven assists. Last weekend, Fleming added three points with three assists to her resume in the Mavericks' 4-2 upset over UMD. Fleming is MSU's active career scoring leader with 26-50--76 in 130 games. On the list of all-time Maverick scoring, Fleming now stands third in assists (50), eighth in points (76) and 11th in goal scoring (26).


Kondas the Kid

Similar to Fleming, senior defenseman Jessica Kondas opted to use her extra year of eligibility to compete one more season with the Mavericks. The right-shot defenseman led MSU in goals scored by defensemen last season with three tallies. Kondas finished last season with a 3-2--5 line, including a pair of game-winning goals which stood tied for team lead, and 36 blocked shots. Kondas earned her first point of the season in the Mavericks' 4-2 victory over UMD, last Saturday with an assist on MSU's first goal.


Akervik's Apples

Junior defenseman Charlotte Akervik led MSU with five points and four assists following week one of the season. After week two, Akervik stands second on the Mavericks in points (six) and tied for first in assists (five) with Fleming after adding another helper in last week's 4-2 victory over UMD. Akervik found herself tied for sixth in MSU's single-game assists chart after providing three helpers in the Mavericks' 9-3 win over Merrimack, Sept. 24. The Eau Claire, Wis., owns MSU's second best +/- rating this season at a mark of +4.


To be Frank...

Sophomore goaltender Calla Frank began opened the season between the pipes for the Mavericks where she earned her fifth career shutout with a 16-save showing at Merrimack (Sept. 24) during the Mavericks' 3-0 victory over the Warriors. Last weekend vs. UMD, Frank backstopped both contests in the series split with the Bulldogs. Frank made 58 saves in the two-game series with nine goals against.

As a Maverick, Frank owns a career record of 14-19-4 with a .910 save percentage and 2.71 goals against average.


Receiving a Vote

The Mavericks found themselves receiving one vote on this week's edition of the USCHO.com DI women's hockey poll released Monday morning. It marks MSU's first time appearing in the poll since Oct. 22, 2012. when the Mavericks broke into the poll at the 10th spot.


2020-21 Rookie of the Year

Sophomore forward Jamie Nelson finished her first season as the Maverick's leading point scorer with 8-7--15 in 18 games. The Andover, Minn., native finished the season second in WCHA  regular-season rookie scoring and garnered WCHA All-Rookie Team honors as well as being named the Mavericks' first-ever WCHA Rookie of the Year. In the conference standings, Nelson closed out the season pacing WCHA freshman with three power play goals, 57 shots and 26 blocks. Nelson scored one goal in the Mavericks' 4-2 victory over the Bulldogs, last weekend. The series vs. UMD marked Nelson's first action of the season.


Facing Lindenwood

In the all-time series vs. the Lions, the Mavericks are 19-4-2 in 25 meetings dating back to the 2011-12 season. MSU has swept the last two series against LU for four consecutive wins. In the last series between the Mavericks and Lions, MSU shutout LU in game one 3-0, Jan. 31, 2020, before claiming a 4-2 victory in game two, Feb. 1, 2020. MSU's junior goaltender, Calla Frank, earned the win in the second game with 30 saves. Kelsey King led the way for MSU with three assists in the series.


Scouting the Lions

The Lions have yet win a game this season in a pair of series this season with their first two games against #1 Wisconsin before taking on St. Cloud State, last weekend.

Senior forward Valerie Caldwell leads the Lions' point-scoring race early. Caldwell has 1-2--3 in four games so far and leads LU with 12 shots on goal. Between the pipes, three of LU's four goaltenders have seen action this season. The primary tandem has included juniors Julia Maguire, who owns a .897 save percentage and 4.32 goals against average, and Natalie Ferenc, with an .831 sv% and 7.53 GAA.


The Captains

Last week, USA Hockey announced the addition of Mavericks' senior defeman and team captain Anna Wilgren to the U.S. Women's National Team Olmpic Residency Program in preparation for the Winter Olympics.

Jessica Kondas and Brittyn Fleming were renamed alternate captains this season while Claire Butorac was named the Mavericks' newest alternate captain in the offseason. The senior trio fills Wilgren's role as head captain while she is away.


Minnesota State All-Time

Minnesota State, which began play in 1998-99, is in its 24th season of competition. The Mavericks have compiled a 206-516-71 (.305) record in 793 games played. MSU is in its 23rd year as members of the WCHA and hold a 126-412-56 (.259) record in 594 conference games played. 

In last season's shortened and pandemic-impacted slate of games, the Mavericks closed out the season with a 7-12-1 record which was good for fifth in the WCHA standings.


Looking Ahead

The Mavericks resume WCHA play next weekend taking on the #5/6 Minnesota Golden Gophers in a home-and-home series following this weekend's slate.

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