For the first time this season the No. 10 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey game returns to AMSOIL Arena for back-to-back weekends.  One week after hosting nationally ranked Harvard University, the Bulldogs will jump back into Western Collegiate Hockey Association action when they host St. Cloud State University.  The Friday-Saturday series is will face-off at 3:07 p.m. both afternoons.  

USCHO RANKING:  UMD-- No. 10, St. Cloud-- N/A
USA TODAY/USA HOCKEY MAG: UMD-- No. 10, St. Cloud-- N/A

THE SERIES: UMD hosts its first non-ranked team since Oct. 17 in St. Cloud State this weekend.  All-time, UMD is 54-10-4 against the Huskies and is unbeaten against SCSU in the last seven outings dating back to December of 2013.  The Bulldogs went 4-0 against the Huskes last season, posting two shutouts and outscoring SCSU 12-3. 

In their last encounter, which took place at AMSOIL, UMD swept SCSU by scores of 2-0 and 3-2 back on Jan. 17-18.

St. Cloud is currently 8-7-1 overall and 4-7-1 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.  The Huskies swept Lindenwood University last week in Missouri by scores of 2-0 and 3-2, and currently sit in fifth place in the WCHA, five points ahead of UMD but with two games in hand.  Senior forward Molly Illikainen leads SCSU with 21 points on 12 goals and nine assists in 14 skates.

LAST TIME OUT:  No. 10 UMD split with No. 7 Harvard last weekend at AMSOIL Arena, the first series between the two historic programs since 2006-07.

Friday night, the Bulldogs struck first and early on a goal by Ashleigh Brykaliuk just 31 seconds into the game.  After Harvard netted two power play goals, including the second on a 5-on-3, UMD drew even on a goal by Michela Cava.  Brykaliuk then netted one of two more UMD goals that would seal the 4-2 win over the Crimson.  Maddie Rooney made 28 saves for the Bulldogs.

Saturday Harvard found offense that UMD couldn't in a 4-1 loss to the Crimson.  UMD outshot Harvard 31-26 but only Lara Stalder found the back of the net.  

NOTES FROM THE HARVARD SERIES:  UMD is now 10-5-1 against Harvard all-time.  The Bulldogs outshot the Crimson 68-56 in the series, but the Crimson netted the 6-5 goal advantage.

--Friday's win was the first time UMD had beaten nationally ranked opponents back-to-back since Jan. 25-26, 2013, when the Bulldogs swept then 9/10 Ohio State in Columbus.

--The Bulldogs are now 31-11-4 all-time against teams in the ECAC, Harvard's conference.  

--Ashleigh Brykaliuk has now posted two or more points in five games this season, while Michela Cava, who had a goal and an assist Friday night, has had three games with two points.  

RANK AND FILE: UMD is ranked in both national polls for the first time in the current 2015-16 season, and first time since Feb. 17.  The Bulldogs land at 10th in both the USCHO.com and USA TODAY/USA Hockey Magazine polls.  St. Cloud State is currently unranked in both polls.

The Bulldogs have played 12 of their first 16 games teams ranked in the top-eight in the nation or higher.  That schedule puts UMD in sole ownership of the NCAA's toughest strength of schedule by a wide margin according to the latest KRACH rating.  The Bulldogs rank first with a 291.6 strength of schedule rating, while Yale in the second closest spot with 278.7.

BREAK-OUT BULLDOGS:  A number of UMD players have already posted career-high numbers this season in just the first 16 games.  

Most notably, junior forward Katherine McGovern has more than doubled her point total from her first two seasons already this year, posting a goal and four assists.  Senior Michela Cava, a first line staple now, has netted six goals and four assists for 10 points, eclipsing her 2014-15 point total of six points (3g, 3a) over 32 games.

Second year players Maria Lindh and blueliner Catherine Daoust have also posted higher numbers than their rookie campaigns.  Lindh, who was only available for 15 games a season ago, has netted four goals and dished three assists for seven points after registering just a goal and an assist in 15 skates in 2014-15.

Daoust posted two assists in all of last year, while this year, through 16 skates, has already netted three goals and two assits for five points.

BULLDOG NOTES:  Ashleigh Brykaliuk continues to lead UMD with 15 points on six goals and nine assists in 16 games.  Lara Stalder has recorded 11 points on a team-high 11 goals and three assists, while Michela Cava sits in third with 10 points on six goals and four assists.

--Stalder is tied for eighth in the NCAA with three power play goals, while Brykaliuk is in a tie in then No. 15 slot for game-winning goals with two.

--Brykaliuk is currently on a two-game scoring streak after recording two goals and an assist against Harvard last weekend over two games.

--UMD is 0-7-0 when its opponents have scored first, but have faired far better at 6-3-0 when they have taken the games first lead.  The Bulldogs are 4-0-0 when they have the lead after two periods of play, but fall to 0-7-0 when trailing affter the first 40 minutes.

Video Feed: http://www.nchc.tv/umd

Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umd/whockey/xlive.htm

TV: My9 (Duluth area) Saturday

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