MANKATO, Minn.--- Minnesota State (2-4-0, 0-4-0) hosts #10 St. Cloud State (7-2-0, 2-1-0) for its third conference matchup of the season. SCSU comes into this weekend tied with #7/8 Minnesota Duluth in the WCHA standings with six conference points. 

Last Time Out:
Minnesota State battled #7/8 Minnesota Duluth last weekend at the Mayo Clinic HSEC dropping both games by finals of 3-1 and 4-1. 

In both games, UMD collected the opening scores of the weekend seeing the Mavericks respond in the early stages of the second period. Friday, senior Jamie Nelson notched her team-leading fifth-goal on the season for her 19th goal in the purple and gold. 

Senior captain Charlotte Akervik delivered Saturday's tally for the Mavericks joining an odd-man rush capitalizing on the opportunity for her second goal on the season. On the play, sophomore Whitney Tuttle collected her fourth assist on the year and junior Claire Vekich notched her first assist as a Maverick.  

Through the first 40 minutes of play in each game, the Mavericks were outscored 3-2 on the weekend. UMD took over in both final periods outscoring the Mavericks 3-0 to ensure the sweep.

Senior Lauren Barbro and junior Suzette Faucher split the weekend combining for seven goals allowed on 54 shots. Through 357 minutes this season, Maverick goaltenders combine for a 3.86 goals-against average and a .870 save percentage for a 2-4 record. 

The Gazdik twins have solidified themselves as everyday defenders seeing first-line action last Saturday against UMD. On October 7th, Jenessa Gazdik found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal against Sacred Heart. Defensively, the Gazdik duo has combined for 18 blocked shots this season leading all MSU defensive pairings. JuliAnna Gazdik leads the team in blocks with 12.

Taking on SCSU:  
The Huskies have been included in Division I women's college hockey's top 15 since January 23, 2023. This week, UMD has been ranked tenth in both NCAA Division I Women's college hockey by USA Hockey Magazine and in the USCHO rankings. 

St. Cloud State has outscored its opponents by a 27-7 margin through nine games to open the season going 7-2-0 in that stretch. The Huskies offense has been clicking with five players with six points or higher. Headlining the SCSU offense is senior Klara Hymlarova who has averaged a point per game this season. The Czech Republic native leads the team in goals (6) and points (9) through nine games.

In 103 previous matchups with the Huskies, the Mavericks own a 41-49-13 record. In the last ten matchups with the Huskies, the Mavericks hold a 5-4-1 record. 

In goal, SCSU relies on a platoon of seniors Sanni Ahola and Jojo Chobak who have combined for a 0.67 goals-against average and a .970 save percentage for a 7-2-0 record. In 5 games played, Ahola leads the WCHA in goals-against average (0.00) and save percentage (1.000) with four shutouts.