MANKATO, Minn. -- The Minnesota State women's hockey team will be on the road for the first time this season as they head to take on the two-time reigning national champions, the No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers. Friday's puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at LaBahn Arena, with Saturday's set for 2:00 p.m. Both games will be streamed on Big Ten +.
Headed to the Polls:
The Mavericks stayed put at No. 15 in the USA Hockey Poll while they were receiving votes in the USCHO. com Poll remaining put in both after being idle last weekend. Wisconsin dropped to No. 2 in both polls this week, with Ohio State jumping above them after sweeping the Badgers.
About the Mavericks:
Minnesota State heads into the weekend with a 2-2-0 record and are 0-2-0 in the WCHA. Prior to being idle last weekend, the Mavericks dropped both games in their WCHA opener against St. Cloud State (5-2 & 3-0).
During the first game of the series the Huskies got out to a 5-0 lead after taking advantage on the power play three times. Kaydence Roeske entered the game midway through the first period in net and was able to weather the Husky attack, making 17 saves. The Mavericks fought back hard in the second period as Ayla Puppe scored on the skater advantage before Bella Shipley scored her second of the year. Both teams remained scoreless in the third as the Mavericks fell in the first game.
In the second game the Mavericks were unable to find the back of the net, but they played a very strong first two periods, killing off penalties and outshooting the Huskies. Hailey Hansen had a strong bounce back performance after struggling the night before. In the third period, the Huskies once again took advantage of the power play scoring twice and eventually winning 3-0.
Puppe and Mercury Bischoff are tied for the team lead with points thus far with four and are tied for the team lead in goals with two alongside Shipley and Zoe Lopez. Lauren Zawoyski, Neely Hawn, and Lucie Tenenbaum have been valuable to the Maverick blue line, each having two points so far.
Between Hansen and Roeske, the Mavericks have allowed 12 goals, for a 3.00 goals against average while holding a .870 save percentage.
The Mavericks are 3-13 (23.1%) on the power play, they have won 52.6% of their faceoffs early on this season. After struggling on the PK against St. Cloud State the Mavericks are 9-15 (60%) on the kill.
Scouting Wisconsin:
Wisconsin enters the weekend with a 4-2-0 record, including a 0-2-0 record in WCHA competition. Last weekend against Ohio State, the Badgers dropped both games, 2-1 and 5-3 respectively. Cassie Hall scored twice on the weekend while Madelyn Kimbrel scored her first career goal.
The Badgers have the most goals in the nation so far with 27. Led by Hall who leads the country in goals with seven, and is tied for third in points with 11, while Maggie Scannell is 10th with nine points.
Ava McNaughton has been a stalwart in net over the last four seasons for the Badgers. So far this season in five games she owns a .921 save percentage and a 2.28 goals against average with one shutout.
The Badgers own a power play percentage of 33.3% (T-third) and a penalty kill percentage of 66.7%. They have won 51.5% of their faceoffs so far this season
History vs. Wisconsin:
This weekend's games will mark the 121st and 122nd time these two WCHA foes have faced off. Minnesota State is on the wrong side of the all-time series holding a 3-114-3 record against UW.
Last season the Mavericks season ended at the hands of the eventual national champs as they fell 7-2 in the WCHA Final Faceoff in St. Paul.
The Mavericks last won against the Badgers in February 2020 when Emily Antony scored a goal and added an assist in a 3-1 MSU win. Since than the Badgers have won 25 straight.
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