The No. 3 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will travel to Columbus, Ohio this weekend to face-off against Ohio State University. The Western Collegiate Hockey Association showdown will happen at the OSU Ice Rink at 5:00 p.m.CT Friday night, with game two set to begin 12:00 p.m. CT Saturday afternoon.
THE SERIES: The Bulldogs are 63-15-3 all-time against OSU, and went 3-1-0 against the Buckeyes last season, with UMD outscoring OSU 17-13 in those for games.
In their last match-up back on Jan. 29-30 of this year, the Bulldogs split the series, suffering a 4-6 loss on Jan. 29 before earning a 4-2 win the following day.
On Jan. 29, UMD was handicapped by a number of things, most notably a program-tying four power play goals allowed, including three in the first period.
The next day (Jan. 30) UMD skated out to a two-goal advantage on goals by freshman Morgan Morse and Katherine McGovern before OSU scored three unanswered goals of its own. Junior forward Ashleigh Brykaliuk tied the game at 15:09 in the second period before Morse netted her third goal of the series with just 1:54 left in the game.
USCHO RANKING: UMD-- No. 3, Ohio State-- Rec. Votes
USA TODAY/USA HOCKEY MAG: UMD-- No. 3, Ohio State-- Rec. Votes
LAST TIME OUT: The No. 3 Bulldogs took five of a possible six points from No. 10 Bemidji State over the weekend at AMSOIL Arena, taking a 2-1 victory on Friday and a shootout win Saturday after earning a 3-3 tie.
Friday, UMD got two goals from junior Katerina Mrázová, including the game-winner 4:08 into the third period in the Bulldogs 2-1 win. UMD outshot BSU 41-21 in the contest.
The Bulldogs scored two first period goals on Saturday, including another goal by Mrázová en route to a 3-3 with the Beavers. Despite outshooting BSU 41-29, it took a shootout by Lara Stalder for UMD to grab the extra WCHA point. Overall, UMD outshot BSU 82-50.
NOTES FROM THE BEMIDJI STATE SERIES: After last weekend, the Bulldogs are now 65-12-6- all-time against BSU, and are unbeaten against the Beavers in their last four games (3-0-1).
-- Junior forward Katerina Mrázová netted a total of three goals on the weekend. UMD has now had a player score two or more goals in a series four times this season.
-- Lara Stalder still leads UMD with 13 points on six goals and seven assists despite having her seven-game scoring streak snapped on Saturday.
RANK AND FILE: For the first time since Nov. 29, 2010, UMD is ranked in the top-three in the nation by both national polls.
UMD is also 2-2-2 against teams ranked in top-10 so far this season, and has played three out of its last four series against ranked opponents.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Bulldogs remain unbeaten at home this season, and own a record of 4-0-2 at AMSOIL Arena. UMD owns a seven game unbeaten streak dating back to last season.
CHART TOPPERS: Senior forward Lara Stalder ranks 13th in the NCAA with a 1.62 points per game average but is tied for first for total number of points (13).
Stalder also ranks first in the WCHA with five goals and five assists for 10 points in six conference skates. Katherine McGovern ranks second with eight points (3g, 5a), while Katerina Mrázová sits tenth with four goals and one assist for five points in league play.
Stalder also ranks third in the WCHA for goals and assists in conference games (5), and is tied for third with freshman blueliner Jalyn Elmes for power play points with three.
UMD ranks No. 9 in scoring offense with a 3.38 goals per game average with a whopping 27 goals in eight games. Only Wisconsin has scored more goals (28) than the Bulldogs have so far this season.
The Bulldogs also rank No. 8 with their power play at 20.0. UMD is 7-of-35 with an extra skater.
UMD has three players tied for 10th in the NCAA with two power play goals -- Ashleigh Brykaliuk, Katerine McGovern and rookie defenseman Jalyn Elmes.
PUPS WITH POINTS: UMD has four players that are averaging one or more points a game this season.
At the top of the list is Lara Stalder who rings in a 1.62 points per game. She is followed by senior forwards Ashleigh Brykaliuk and Katerine McGovern, both averaging 1.25 points per game. With three goals last weekend, junior Katerina Mrázová has posted 1.00 points per game.
Five of Stalder's eight games have included two or more points, with a season-high four (3g, 1a) against Minnesota State on Oct. 8.
Brykaliuk has had four multiple-point games -- two with three points, while McGovern has posted two or more points twice. Mrázová has had three multiple-point outings for UMD.
FORMER BULLDOG STANDOUT JESSICA KOIZUMI ON BUCKEYE BENCH: Former Bulldog forward Jessica Koizumi will be on the bench for Ohio State this weekend, but it will be as the Buckeyes associate head coach.
The 10th leading scorer in Bulldog history with 84 goals and 71 assists for 155 points in 132 games, Koizumi spent the last six seasons behind the bench at Yale University, while also playing professionally for the Connecticut Whale of the National Women's Hockey Leage.
A 2007 Frozen Four All-Tournament Team selection, as well as 2006-07 All-WCHA Third Team member, Koizumi's 84 goals ranks as the seventh most by a Bulldog. Koizumi won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2008 IIHF Women's World Championship, and twice won the Clarkson Cup (2013, 2015) with the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women's Hockey League over her seven-year CWHL career.
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Stats: http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/gametracker/launch/gt_whockey.html?event=1512557&school=osu&sport=whockey&camefrom=&startschool=&
Video: http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.comcollegesportslive/?media=538940 (paid)
