MINOT, N.D. – After a busy week on the road against top-ranked teams, the schedule doesn't get any easier for the Minot State women's hockey team.
But at least the 10
th-ranked Beavers are home.
The Minot State women (4-6-0 overall) begin a four-game home stand by hosting No. 5 Maryville (Mo.) this weekend at the Maysa Arena with puck-drop at 3:45 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.
The Beavers have taken on all the best this season, handing No. 1-ranked Liberty a 3-2 overtime loss, battling No. 2-ranked Midland on the road to open the season, and having just finished a weekend series at No. 3 Adrian.
So, it's no surprise to see the Beavers battling another top foe in Maryville (8-4-0), which comes in having played just one similar foe as Minot State; a pair of losses to Midland at home last weekend which means both teams will be out to snap a 2-game skid.
As for the Saints, they are led by Mady Johnsen, who has 7 goals and 6 assists, while Sydney Poisson has 5 goals and 7 assists, and Sarah Brooks has 4 goals and 7 assists.
In goal, Kaitlyn Cadrain has played 11 of 12 games with a 7-4-0 record and a 92.9 save percentage that includes 2 shutouts. Cadrain lost both meetings with Minot State last season.
The two teams have played five times in this brief series, as Maryville only started hockey in the 2020-21 season, and Minot State holds a 4-1 all-time edge head-to-head. The lone Saints victory came last season, a 2-1 victory at the Maysa Arena in October 2022.
Of course, the Beavers hold bragging rights of having won the teams' last meeting, a 3-1 victory in the ACHA national quarterfinals.
As for the Beavers,
Haylie Biever has been the workhorse in goal with a 3-6-0 record in nine games with 1 shutout and a 93.4 save percentage.
Offensive balance has been key for Minot State, as well, as
Paige Kozak,
Anna German,
Aspen Cooper,
Gillian Gervin, and
Krissy Rink all have 2 goals apiece this season.
The start of a four-game home stand, Minot State will host Midland next Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10 and 11.
And this weekend also will be special as Saturday's game, Nov. 4, will be Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day at Maysa Arena in honor of all the people at Minot State who make the University a success.
Both this weekend's women's hockey games will be followed by the Minot State men's hockey team hosting Jamestown at 7:30 p.m. each night.
