Maverick Icers Hit the Road to Take on the Second Ranked Golden Gophers

1/27/2010 10:18:35 AM

Mankato, Minn.--- The Mavericks, now 4-15-5 on the year and 2-13-5-3 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play, travel to Minneapolis, Minn. to face the second-ranked University of Minnesota Golden Gophers this weekend, January 29 and 30 at Ridder Arena. Friday night’s contest will start at 7:07 p.m. and Saturday’s contest at 4:07 p.m.

About Minnesota: The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers sit first in the WCHA with their 19-3-4 overall record and 15-2-3-3 in the WCHA. The Gophers are lead by junior forward Emily West (15-17--32), sophomore forward Sarah Erickson (13-15--28), sophomore blueliner Anne Schleper (9-11--20) and senior forward Brittany Francis (7-13--20). West’s 32 points ranks fifth in the conference in overall scoring and her 15 goals ranks fourth. Erickson’s 28 points ranks eighth in the conference in scoring and her 13 goals places her eighth in the conference. West and Erickson sit ninth and tenth, respectively for total assists. As a team, the Gophers rank first in the conference in nearly all categories.

MSU/UM History: Minnesota State is 3-45-3 all-time against the Golden Gophers. Earlier this season the Mavericks played host to the University of Minnesota, for a two game series with the Golden Gophers and finished the weekend 0-1-1. MSU fell to the Gophers in their first meeting, 1-4. The Mavericks only goal of their 4-1 loss came from sophomore Emmi Leinonen early in the third period. Leinonen was assisted by senior blueliner Holly Snyder and junior forward Lisa Edman. In their second meeting which ended in a tie, junior forward Nina Tikkinen tallied the score on assists from senior captain Kala Buganski and sophomore defenseman Ariel Mackley.

Minnesota Duluth Notes: The Minnesota State Mavericks played host to the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs for a two game series Friday and Saturday in which UMD swept the Mavericks...MSU has dropped 10 of their last 11 contests, five straight giving them a 4-15-5 record, 2-13-5 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association...The team has been out scored 17-4 in their five game skid...The Mavericks had three members of the team earn two points on the weekend...Senior Ashley Young continues to lead the team in scoring and added a goal and an assist over the weekend bumping her totals to 6-10--16...Young earned an assist in Friday night’s game and scored the Mavericks only goal on Saturday...Junior Nina Tikkinen earned her second goal of the season in Friday night’s game and assisted points leader Young on her goal in Saturday’s contest...senior Christina Lee was the other Maverick to earn two points on the weekend...Lee earned an assist on both of the weekends goals...In Friday’s 3-1 loss, the Bulldogs opened scoring in the first period UMD senior Laura Fridfinnson scored her eleventh goal of the season (five hole) on an assist from rookie center Katie Wilson...UMD increased their lead early in the second period when senior center Saara Tuominen beat Maverick goaltender Alli Altmann glove-side for the score. Fridfinnson earned the assist on the goal...At 12:31 in the third rookie forward Audrey Cournoyer increased the Bulldogs lead to 3-0 putting the puck past Altmann top-shelf, glove-side...The UMD goal was assisted by Tuominen and Fridfinnson...The Mavericks tallied their first goal for the game late in the third period when junior forward Nina Tikkinen slapped in the one-timer on assists from senior forward Christina Lee and senior center Ashley Young...The goal marked Tikkinen’s second of the year...Altmann finished the contest with 30 saves...MSU ended the night 0-6 on power play opportunities, while UMD converted 1-7...In Saturday afternoon’s game, the Bulldogs tallied the game’s opening goal late in the first period when rookie forward Jessica Wong beat Maverick goaltender Alli Altmann glove-side for the Bulldog score...Seniors Jaime Rasmussen and Saara Tuminen earned assists on the goal...The Mavericks finished a scoreless second period of hockey by killing off seven minutes of Bulldog power play chances...Atmann had six saves in the period, five of them coming on the penalty kill...UMD increased their lead to 2-0 early in the third, rookie center Katie Wilson scored off of a rebound...Laura Fridfinnson and Jocelyne Larocque earned the assists...With 12:29 left in the contest, senior and alternate captain Ashley Young tallied her sixth goal of the season on a two on one break away...Junior forward Nina Tikkinen set up the goal with a nice cross-net pass...Senior forward Christina Lee also earned an assist on the goal...The Mavericks had a power play chance with 3:55 left in the game but couldn’t capitalize with the extra skater...The Bulldogs outshot the Mavericks 22-20 in the contest, while both teams finished 0-4 with an extra skater...The Mavericks finished 0-10 on the weekend with an extra skater, 12-115 on the season...Minnesota State opponents are 28-139 on power play chances...The Mavericks own 42 total goals on the season and have given up 79 points on the year.

To view a compete version of these notes click HERE.

-30-

Print Friendly Version

Scoreboard

Minnesota State University - Mankato Athletics

Scoreboard

Maverick Icers Hit the Road to Take on the Second Ranked Golden Gophers