MANKATO, Minn.--- Minnesota State (12-23-0, 6-22-0 WCHA) will head to Ridder Arena to take on the third seed #4 Minnesota Gopher in the WCHA Quarterfinals. The weekend series is a best-of-three series with the third game being held on Sunday at 3 p.m. The action kicks off at Ridder Arena on Friday at 6 p.m.

Last Time Out:
Minnesota State was swept in a home-and-home series by St. Thomas in finals of 3-2 and 5-4 this past weekend.

After the Tommies registered tallies in each period Friday afternoon at the Mayo Clinic HSEC, The Mavericks showed late life in the final seconds of regulation. 

Following the Tommies' empty-net tally in the final minute of the third period, senior Kennedy Bobyck refused to finish her final game at the Mayo Clinic HSEC scoreless taking the opening face-off in UST's offensive zone setting up sophomore Alexis Paddington for her second tally of the season.

The Mavericks continued to fight scoring just 12 seconds later seeing senior Jamie Nelson rocket a shot over the shoulder of UST's Calla Frank putting the pressure on the Tommies' late. UST would survive the next 23 seconds registering their ninth victory of the season.

On Saturday, Both teams landed punches early seeing goals just over two minutes apart in the opening period. The Mavericks found the back of the net first at the 7:35 mark of the opening period when senior Kennedy Bobyck delivered a fantastic pass to junior Alexis Paddington who hammered home her third tally of the season. With her 49th career assist on the play, Bobyck leaped Kristina Bunker (2004-08) on the MSU all-time assist chart now tied for sixth on the list.  

After heading into the first intermission tied at one, the Mavericks were able to capitalize on a UST passing miscue setting up a two-on-one for junior Madison Mashuga and senior Jamie Nelson. Nelson sent a pass to Mashuga who then passed back to Nelson tucking home her team-leading 18th goal on the season giving MSU a one-goal advantage.

UST would collect two in the final four minutes of the second period claiming its first lead of the day.

Junior Alexis Paddington would net her second tally on the game at the 11:16 mark tying the game at three. On the play, freshman JuliAnna Gazdik collected her tenth assist of the season.

After going down 4-3 late in the final period, The Mavericks capitalized on a six-on-four opportunity after UST received a tripping minor in addition to head coach John Harrington pulling freshman goalie Hailey Hansen in the final minute of regulation. Senior Charlotte Akervik ripped a shot from the blueline pinballing into the back of the net forcing an overtime period.

The Mavericks would drop its final game of the regular season just 36 seconds into the overtime period by a final of 5-4.

Taking on the Gophers  
No. 4 Minnesota (25-7-2, 19-7-2 WCHA) locked up the third seed in the WCHA standings two weeks ago after suffering its third sweep of the season against No. 2 Wisconsin. 

The Gophers are a scoring power-house ranking seventh in the nation in goals scored with 116. Junior Abbey Murphy highlights the Gophers offense registering 31 goals on the season and 20 assists for 51 points in 34 games played this season. Nationally, she owns the most goals in NCAA DI women's hockey while ranking second in goals scored per game (0.91). The Gophers supporting cast includes fellow junior Ella Huber and sophomore Josefin Bouveng who have both accumulated over 30 points this season.

Consequently, Murphy's aggressive play has resulted in 38 penalties in 34 games, leading NCAA DI women's hockey. The Gophers have adapted nicely as both special teams' units rank in the top five nationally. Minnesota's penalty-killing percentage is fifth best while the Gophers power-play percentage is the best in NCAA DI women's hockey (.380 %). The Gophers own the seventh-best scoring margin (1.44) while also ranking seventh nationally in scoring offense (3.41 goals per game).

Minnesota relies on its elite goaltending duo with senior Lucy Morgan and junior Skylar Vetter who combine for a 1.96 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. Morgan has anchored the duo leading the Gophers goaltending unit in saves this season with 13. She is tied for fourth nationally in goalie winning percentage with WCHA rival Ananda Thiele of OSU.