Minnesota State-Mankato at
Minnesota Duluth
What: WCHA women’s hockey series
When: 3:07 p.m. today and Sunday
Where: Amsoil Arena
Records: Minnesota State-Mankato is 0-5-1 overall, 0-3-1-0 in WCHA; UMD is 4-4-2 overall, 1-4-1-1 in WCHA
Rankings: The Mavericks are unranked; the Bulldogs are tied with North Dakota at No. 10 in the USCHO.com poll and received 11 points in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.
Series: The Bulldogs are 53-6-4 all-time after going 4-0 against the Mavericks last season.
Coaches: Eric Means, in his sixth season in Mankato, is 45-124-16; Shannon Miller, in her 16th season at UMD, is 367-136-47
Internet:
http://www.nchc.tv/umd
Minnesota State-Mankato update: The Mavericks remained winless after getting swept at No. 8-ranked Mercyhurst 5-1 and 2-1. Freshman forward Nicole Schammel scored both goals for the Mavericks, which were the first of her collegiate career. She is one of 12 freshmen on the roster and currently leads the team with a meager three points. Minnesota State has only scored five goals in six games thus far with three coming from freshmen. The team is 0-for-16 on the power play through six games and getting outshot 247-100. Junior Erin Krichiver (3.34 goals-against average) and sophomore Brianna Quade (3.25) have shared time in goal.
UMD update: The Bulldogs are on a three-game winning streak following a home sweep of Lindenwood in nonconference play a week ago. Senior forward and captain Zoe Hickel (six goals, three assists, nine points) tied for the team’s scoring lead with her first collegiate hat trick in Sunday’s victory. Sophomore forward Lara Stalder (2-7-9) is tied with Hickel in scoring and senior forward Jenna McParland (3-4-7), who previously was the last Bulldog to score a hat trick in Duluth in 2011, became the 19th player in team history to total at least 100 points in her career with an assist Sunday. Senior forward Meghan Huertas (4-3-7) scored twice on Saturday and again on Sunday and is riding a three-game goal scoring streak into the weekend. She has four goals and an assist in the last three games after starting the year without a goal in the first seven games. The Bulldogs are on the bye next week and it comes at a good time. Three current players - senior Tea Villila of Finland, freshmen Michelle Lowenhielm and Marie Lindh of Sweden - and three UMD alumni - Haley Irwin and Jocelyne Larocque of Canada and Pernilla Winberg of Sweden - will be playing at the Four Nations Cup in Kamploops, British Columbia next week. Sophomore Katerina Mrazova will be with the Czech Republic national team in Japan next week.
Quote: “These are the games you have to win, that you feel like you have to win and you should want to do everything in your power to win these games so that the next time you play the Wisconsins and Minnesotas, you’re in a better situation with points and you’re ready to go after them and steal a game from them.” - Miller on facing the Mavericks this week.
