MANKATO, Minn.--- Minnesota State (2-9-0, 0-8-0) will travel to Bemidji State (0-11-1, 0-8-0) to face the Beavers as both teams battle to find their first WCHA victories. The Mavericks hit the ice at 6 p.m. on Friday while puck-drop on Saturday is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Last Time Out:
Minnesota State fell to the University of St. Thomas at Thursday night's Hall of Fame game by a final of 4-1 at the Maple Grove Ice Arena.

The Mavericks jumped on the board at the 12:15 mark of the first when junior defenseman Shelbi Guttormson got loose on a breakaway and beat the St. Thomas goaltender on the blocker side off the post for her first goal of the season. Senior Kennedy Bobyck picked up the assist, her second of the season.
 
St. Thomas scored a pair of unanswered goals at the 6:19 and 9:45 mark of the second period to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission. UST added a power play goal at the 12:15 mark of the third to give the Tommies some insurance. St. Thomas added another power play goal in the game's waning moments.

Taking on Bemidji State:  
Headlining the Beavers' offense are freshman Hailey Armstrong and senior Taylor Nelson who have combined for 11 points through 12 games. Armstrong owns five of the team's eight goals on the year as she has yet to register an assist on the season. Nelson leads the Beavers in points registering two goals and four assists on the season for six points.

BSU comes into this weekend as the only team in the WCHA averaging less than a goal per game while failing to register a point on the power play.

In 101 previous matchups with the Beavers, the Mavericks own a 40-47-14 record. Over the last 13 matchups with BSU dating back to December 18, 2020, the Mavericks are a dominant 10-2-1 against Bemidji State.

In goal, BSU relies on a platoon of juniors Abbie Thompson, Emerald Kelley, and freshman Eva Filippova who have combined for a 4.33 goals-against average and a .885 save percentage. On defense, BSU leads the WCHA in blocked shots averaging 17.25 blocks per game. The Mavericks are second in the conference averaging 15 blocks per game.