MANKATO, Minn. — The Minnesota State Mavericks (13-15-2, 7-15-2 WCHA) return to the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center to host No. 1 Wisconsin (25-3-2, 19-3-2 WCHA) for their final home series of the 2025–26 season. Puck drop is set for 3:02 p.m. Friday and 2:02 p.m. Saturday, with both games streaming on B1G+.
Scouting the Badgers
Wisconsin enters the weekend atop the WCHA standings with 60 points and holds the No. 1 spot in both the USA Hockey and USCHO national polls. The Badgers are coming off a split series at home against Ohio State, falling 4–1 on Friday before rebounding with a 4–1 victory on Saturday.
Graduate student Lacey Eden leads Wisconsin offensively with 56 points on 21 goals and 35 assists. In net, standout goaltender Ava McNaughton is currently away competing in the Olympics, leaving freshman Rhyah Stewart to anchor the crease. Stewart has appeared in 11 games, posting a .921 save percentage and a 1.96 goals-against average.
Recap vs. St. Cloud State
On Friday, Minnesota State dropped a 5–1 decision to St. Cloud State. The Huskies jumped out to an early lead with three first-period goals and added two more in the second. The Mavericks broke through in the third when
Mercury Bischoff scored at the 5:00 mark, assisted by
Lauren Zawoyski and
Ava Guillemette. Goaltender
Hailey Hansen finished with 31 saves.
Minnesota State responded on Saturday with a convincing 4–1 victory.
Kamryn Van Batavia opened the scoring at 8:26 of the first period off an assist from
Taylor Otremba. The Mavericks extended the lead late in the second period with goals from
Ayla Puppe and Bischoff, building a 3–0 advantage heading into the third.
After St. Cloud State cut into the lead midway through the final frame, Otremba sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 18:32. Hansen was steady between the pipes, turning aside every shot she faced through two periods.
Series History
Minnesota State is 3-111-3 all-time against Wisconsin. The teams last met in October, when the Badgers claimed wins of 4–0 and 8–0 in Madison.
