After a season-long three week home stand, the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will hit the road this weekend to face Minnesota State University, Mankato in Mankato, Minn.  The Western Collegiate Hockey Association series will get underway in the Verizon Wireless Center Friday at 2:07 p.m., and conclude Saturday at 2:07 p.m.

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs have won 10-straight games against MSU, dating back to the 2012-13 season.  All-time, UMD is 59-6-4 versus the Mavericks after sweeping MSU back on Oct. 16-17 at AMSOIL Arena

The Bulldogs completed their first home series sweep of the season against the Mavericks back in October, 4-2 and 4-0 wins, repectively.

Friday night, Oct. 16, UMD followed up junior winger Katherine McGovern's first period goal with three, third period tallies to break open the game for the Bulldogs offensively.  UMD had four different goal scorers (McGovern, Lara Stalder, Morgan Morse and Catherine Daoust) but got two assists from junior forward Demi Crossman.

Saturday Oct. 17, freshman goaltender Maddie Rooney backstopped the Bulldogs to her first collegiate shutout with a 4-0 triumph.  Both senior center Michela Cava and sophomore winger Maria Lindh had two goals for UMD in the lopsided win.

Rooney played in both games for the Bulldogs, making 24 saves in the series.

Although UMD outscored MSU 8-2, it outshot the Mavericks a whopping 75-26 in the series.

LAST TIME OUT:  UMD snapped a seven-game losing streak Saturday with a 4-3 win over Ohio State, one day after falling 6-4 to the Buckeyes at AMSOIL Arena.

On Friday night, the Bulldogs were handicapped by a number of things, most notably a program-tying four power play goals allowed, including three in the first period.  UMD senior goaltender Kayla Black played the final 32:07 of actin and held OSU scoreless after both of the other Bulldog net minder took turn between the pipes in the loss.

Saturday 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 to seal UMD's first win in 2016.

Black's 33 saves Saturday helped her pick up win No. 51 of her career.

NOTES FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE SERIES:  UMD's win Saturday snapped its program-longest losing streak of seven games.  In four regular season meetings, the Bulldogs went 3-1-0 against the Buckeyes this season and are 63-15-3 all-time.

--Saturday was the eighth time this season UMD has scored four or more goals for a win.  The Bulldogs have scored four goals in all but one win this season.  Friday was the first time this season the Bulldogs netted four goals and did not register a win.  UMD is 8-1-0 when it scores four or more goals in a contest.

--The Bulldogs 45 shots Saturday was the second most shots they have posted this season.  UMD put up 47 against Lindenwood University on Sept. 27 in a 4-1 win.  

--UMD's surrender of four power play goals last Friday tied a record for the most power play goals allowed in a game.

MORSE NABS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK HONOR:  Lakeville, Minn. native Morgan Morse led all NCAA freshmen (and tied for the nation's overall lead) with three goals, including the game-winner Saturday night in the Bulldogs 4-3 win over the Buckeyes. 

After entering the weekend with one goal in her first 26 collegiate games, Morse cut into visiting Ohio State's lead with her first score of the weekend – a third-period tally in Friday's series opener. Saturday, Morse bookended UMD's scoring, and gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead 2:16 into the game.  Morse then snapped a 3-3 tie with just 1:54 remaining in regulation on a wrist shot from the circle. She finished the series with nine shots on goal and a +2 rating. 

BULLDOG NOTES:  With 33 points, Ashleigh Bryklaiuk leads UMD in scoring with 34 points on 11 goals and 23 assists.  She has notched points in 13 of the Bulldogs last 14 games, posting seven goals and 15 assists for 21 points over those last 14 skates.

Lara Stalder ranks first with 14 Bulldog goals and second overall with 29 points.  In her last 12 games, Stalder has recorded points all but twice, recording seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points over that span.  Stalder had three assists Friday night, the eighth time this season she has compiled two or more points.

--Nationally, Brykaliuk ranks 20th in points, with a 1.21 PPG average, and 12th with 23 assisstsin 28 skates.  Stalder owns five power play goals, good for sixth in the NCAA.  

--Brykaliuk has recorded points in 13 of her last 14 outings, posting seven goals and 15 assists for 21 points over that span.

CHART WATCH:  Junior defenseman Sidney Morin is now tied for 10th in career goals by a defenseman.  Morin has notched 11 tallies, including four so far this season, in 101 skates.  Morin is currently tied with former All-American Julianne Vasichek, who netted 11 in 124 games.

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