University of Minnesota Athletics
Home-And-Home Series vs. Mavericks Up Next
11/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
| No. 2 Minnesota (9-1-2) vs. Minnesota State (0-11-1) | |
| Game 1 | Friday, Nov. 21 | 7 p.m. CT | All Seasons Arena | Mankato, Minn. |
| Game 2 | Saturday, Nov. 22 | 4 p.m. CT | Ridder Arena | Minneapolis |
| Game 1 | Game Day Live | Free Video | Free Audio | Live Stats |
| Game 2 | Game Day Live | BTN Plus Video ($) | Free Audio | |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Minnesota State |
| Social Media | @GopherWHockey | Facebook | Instagram |
Nov. 19, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS - No. 2 Minnesota (9-1-2, 7-1-2-0 WCHA) faces Minnesota State (0-11-1, 0-9-1-0 WCHA) in a home-and-home series this weekend. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. Friday night at All Seasons Arena before the Gophers return home to host the Mavericks at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Both of this weekend's games will have free audio and live stats available at GopherSports.com. Friday's game will be streamed for free at MSUMavericks.com via Stretch Internet, and Saturday's game will be streamed online via BTN Plus.
About the Series: Minnesota vs. Minnesota State
Minnesota is 65-3-3 all-time against Minnesota State. Minnesota went 4-0 against Minnesota State last season with 4-1 and 7-0 victories last November and 4-0 and 5-0 shutout wins in January 2014. The Gophers have won 20-straight games against the Mavericks, dating back to the 2009-10 season. The Mavericks' last win over the Gophers was a 4-3 victory on Jan. 20, 2007.
Scouting the Opponent: Minnesota State
Minnesota State (0-11-1, 0-9-1-0 WCHA) is still in search of its first win this season. Most recently, the Mavericks suffered a road sweep at Wisconsin, falling 8-2 and 8-0 to the Badgers. Minnesota State tied St. Cloud State in its fourth game of the season, tying 1-1 in overtime before falling 1-0 in the shootout. The Mavericks generated the most offense against Minnesota Duluth, scoring three goals in a 6-3 loss on Nov. 2.
The Mavericks are led by captain Natalie Stoltz, a senior forward, and alternate captains Kathleen Rogan and Elisabeth Hewett. Rogan is Minnesota State's top returning scorer from last season when she tallied 21 points (11g-10a) in 36 games. This season, the Mavericks have 12 rookies on the roster. Eleven of the new players have seen playing time this season, including nine of them playing in at least 10 games.
Two freshmen forwards lead Minnesota State in scoring as Nicole Schammel (4g-1a) and Hannah Davidson (1g-4a) have five points each. Fifteen Mavericks have at least one point this season, including seven players with at least one goal. Minnesota State averages 0.92 goals and 16.7 shots on goal per game.
Junior goaltender Erin Krichiver has played in eight games with a 0-7-1 record, and sophomore netminder Brianna Quade is 0-4-0 with five appearances. Among WCHA goaltenders, Quade ranks sixth with a .915 save percentage. She also owns a 3.87 goals against average. Krichiver has a 4.19 goals against average and a .906 save percentage.
Gopher Quick Hits
- Meghan Lorence scored her first career hat trick last weekend and was named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week this week.
- Kate Schipper had a season-best four points against Ohio State last weekend.
- Milica McMillen leads the NCAA with five power-play goals this season.
- Kelly Pannek (1g-7a) ranks second among WCHA rookies with 0.67 points per game.
Last Time Out: Gophers Sweep Ohio State
Last weekend, the Gophers earned a road sweep over Ohio State. Minnesota secured a 4-2 victory last Friday before completing the series sweep with a 5-3 win Saturday. Rachael Bona (1g-4a), Meghan Lorence (4g) and Kate Schipper (2g-2a) led the Gophers in the series.
Friday's win over the Buckeyes saw Bona lead the Gophers with three points. Schipper also registered two points on one goal and one assist in addition to Bona's third multi-point effort of the season.
Lorence scored her first career hat trick as the Gophers topped Ohio State, 5-3, to complete a road sweep over the Buckeyes. Four Gophers recorded multiple points in the win with two assists each from Rachael Bona and Milica McMillen in addition to Lorence's three-goal effort. Schipper also had two points on one goal and one assist.
Home, Sweet Home
The Gophers are 48-2-2 in their last 52 home games, dating back to Feb. 18, 2012. This season, Minnesota ranks second in the nation in home attendance, averaging 1,846 fans per game in six home games.
Offensive Defense
The Gophers' defensemen lead the WCHA blue-liners in scoring, averaging 3.33 points per game. McMillen (6g-6a) is tied for third in the nation and leads the WCHA defensemen with 12 points on the year. Fellow Gopher blue-liners Rachel Ramsey (2g-7a) and Lee Stecklein (9a) are among the WCHA's top defensive scorers as well.
Spreading the Wealth
Sixteen of Minnesota's 18 skaters have registered at least one point this season, including three of the Gophers' four rookies. Freshmen Cara Piazza (3g-1a), Nina Rodgers (1a) and Kelly Pannek (1g-7a) have all recorded their first collegiate points. Five Gophers are in double-figures for scoring, led by Hannah Brandt (9g-10a) and Dani Cameranesi (9g-7a).
Hannah Brandt (9g-10a) and Dani Cameranesi (9g-7a) rank among the nation's top 10 scorers with 1.73 points per game and 1.45 points per game, respectively. Their nine goals apiece are tied for the WCHA lead.
With 46 goals in 12 games, the Gophers' offense ranks second in the WCHA and third in the nation, averaging 3.83 goals per game. Meanwhile, Minnesota's 1.42 goals against average leads the WCHA and ranks fourth in the NCAA.
Leveille Leads WCHA Goaltenders
Goaltender Amanda Leveille ranks second in the WCHA with a 1.48 goals against average and third in the league with a .938 save percentage. She leads the WCHA and ranks third in the nation with a .850 winning percentage (8-1-1).
Special Teams Off to a Strong Start
The Gophers have the nation's top-ranked power-play unit, converting on 17-of-49 opportunities for a .347 percentage. Milica McMillen leads the NCAA with five power-play goals this season. After allowing three power-play goals against the Buckeyes, Minnesota has slipped to fourth in the WCHA and 12th in the nation with a .872 penalty kill percentage (41-for-47).
Senior Class Boasts Impressive Winning Percentage
Minnesota's senior class of Rachael Bona, Meghan Lorence, Rachel Ramsey, Shyler Sletta owns a 122-8-5 overall record for a .922 winning percentage during their time in Maroon & Gold, including a 9-1-2 mark this season.
Winning Ways
Minnesota is 104-4-4 in the team's last 112 games, a stretch that included an NCAA-record 62-game winning streak (Feb. 28, 2012 through Nov. 17, 2013).
Up Next: Gophers, Huskies to Face Off in HOF Game
Minnesota and St. Cloud State will face off in the 2014 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Faceoff Classic on Monday at Braemar Arena in Edina, Minn. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. CT. Minnesota then travels to Princeton University for a non-conference series Nov. 29-30.
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