Storylines
- The Lindenwood women's ice hockey team travels to Minnesota State this weekend for a two-game series. Both programs have opened up the season with four games against teams in the current top-10 national rankings.
- Lindenwood fell to 0-4-0 last weekend with two losses against No. 3 Wisconsin. The Lady Lions lost to last year's NCAA runner-up by scores of 7-2 and 9-1.
- Minnesota State is 1-2-1 on the year, including a tie with Wisconsin and a victory over No. 6 North Dakota.
- Lindenwood will be playing its third straight series against WCHA teams. The Lady Lions are still looking for their first win in program history over a member of that conference.
- Lindenwood's
Alison Wickenheiser has now recorded a point in 10 out of the last 12 games. She has 14 goals and seven assists in that span.
- This series features the nation's top two goalies in terms of saves. Lindenwood's
Nicole Hensley has stopped 153 shots this season, while Minnesota State's Danielle Butters has stopped 130 shots. Only one other NCAA goalie has stopped over 100 shots.
- Lindenwood and Minnesota State are two of the most penalized teams through two weeks. The Lady Lions are second in NCAA Division I with 17.8 penalty minutes a game, while Minnesota State has been in the box for 10.8 minutes a contest.
- Lindenwood and Minnesota State met twice last year and the Mavericks won both games. In the first game, Minnesota State needed a goal with less than two minutes remaining for a 4-3 win. In game two, the Mavericks won by a 10-2 margin.
- In that series, Lindenwood's
Alison Wickenheiser scored twice and
Katie Erickson had three assists. Kathleen Rogan had five goals to lead Minnesota State in the series. Lauren Smith, Lauren Barnes, and Tracy McCann all had four points against the Lady Lions.
- Minnesota State is 72-119-22 all-time at All Seasons Arena, including a 0-1-1 mark this season. Lindenwood is 8-17-0 on the road during its short NCAA history.
A Look Back at Wisconsin
- Lindenwood shocked Wisconsin by scoring two quick goals in Friday's game. The Badgers tied the game at two by the end of the first period and then pulled away to a 7-2 victory in the last two periods with their special teams play.
- The Badgers outshot Lindenwood 56-17 in Saturday's game and scored three goals in each period of the 9-1 victory.
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Alison Wickenheiser scored two points in the series with an assist in each game.
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Chloe Williams scored her first collegiate point with an assist in game two of the series.
- Goalie
Nicole Hensley was in goal for over 70 minutes and stopped 40 of 47 shots. She allowed just two five-on-five goals.
Lindenwood Notes
- Lindenwood has played a tough schedule early on. Ohio State is ranked in the lastest USCHO poll and Wisconsin is No. 4 in that ranking. This week's opponent, Minnesota State, is receiving votes in the poll.
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Nicole Hensley ranks first in College Hockey America in saves and is fourth in save percentage.
- The three players on Lindenwood's “Triple-A” line have accounted for over half of the team's points this season.
Alison Wickenheiser has one goal and two assists,
Alyssa West has one goal and one assist, and
Allysson Arcibal has one goal.
- The Lady Lions also have three points from members of their second line and two from defensiveman.
- Lindenwood's captain
Brett Lobreau returned last week after missing the Ohio State series. The defenseman made an immediate impact with an assist and five blocked shots.
- Lindenwood did not allow a power-play goal for the first time this season in the second game against Wisconsin. The Badgers were 0-for-three on the power-play in that game.
- In the first three games of the season, Lindenwood allowed just eight goals while both teams were at full strength. In the fourth game, Wisconsin scored nine even-strength goals.
- The Lady Lions are just two-of-19 on the power play in 2012-13.
- Lindenwood has a three-week break after this week's series. The Lady Lions return to the ice on Nov. 2-3 for their first CHA series at home against nationally-ranked Mercyhurst.
CHA Notes
- Lindenwood was selected fifth in the CHA preseason coaches poll. Mercyhurst topped the poll, followed by Robert Morris, Syracuse, RIT, Lindenwood, and Penn State.
- Mercyhurst is the lone nationally-ranked team out of the CHA. The Lakers are No. 10 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll, and No. 9 in the USCHO.
About the Mavericks
- Minnesota State is 1-2-1 in WCHA play this year. The Mavericks tied Wisconsin 2-2 before losing game two of the series by a 3-2 mark. They split with North Dakota, winning 3-2 and losing 4-1.
- Minnesota State is being outscored by a 6-1 mark in the first period, but has outscored teams 6-4 in the third period.
- Tracy McCann leads the team with six points on three goals and three assists. Lauren Smith has also scored three times.
- Danielle Butters has a 2.70 GAA and a .922 save percentage in four games.
- Head coach of Minnesota State is Eric Means. He is in his fourth season and has a 23-75-10 record.
