1. LAST TIME OUT
Wisconsin outscored Maine 15-1 in its two-game sweep on the road in Orono, Maine last weekend thanks to a 9-0 win on Friday and a 6-1 win on Saturday. 

Casey O'Brien recorded a goal and an assist on Saturday, extending her point streak to six games. She leads the NCAA with 40 points this year and 29 assists. 

Caroline Harvey had seven points against Maine thanks to two goals and five assists. 

Freshman Finley McCarthy recorded her first multiple-point game and first back-to-back games with points recording an assist on Friday and goal and assist on Saturday.

2023-24 offseason transfer Quinn Kuntz recorded her first start and win in net for the Badgers on Saturday.

2. JUNIORS CLAIM WCHA WEEKLY AWARDS

Caroline Harvey and Kirsten Simms earned WCHA weekly honors for their contributions to the Badgers sweep of Maine this past weekend, the WCHA announced Monday.

Harvey currently leads all blueliners nationwide in points per game (1.89) and assist per game (1.33). Simms is coming off a red-hot 2023-24 campaign where she recorded a career-best 75 points on 33 goals and 42 assists, leading the team and country in points and tied for the NCAA-best in goals.

Simms tied for the WCHA lead with seven points over the weekend, leading UW to a sweep at Maine. The junior posted two goals and two assists in UW's 9-0 win on Friday before having two goals and an assist in UW's 6-1 triumph on Saturday. The Plymouth, Michigan, native's +6 plus/minus rating ranked second among all league skaters and her four goals led all WCHA skaters during the week.

Harvey led all WCHA defenders with 7 points while leading UW to a sweep at Maine. The blueliner scored two goals and added two assists in UW's 9-0 win on Friday. The Badger co-captain posted a three-assist night against Maine in a 6-1 win on Saturday. The junior's seven points were tied for the most by any skater over the weekend. Her five helpers also led all WCHA skaters.

3.  TRIO TAKE HOME MONTHLY HONORS

Ava McNaughton received Goaltender of the Month, Laila Edwards received Forward of the Month and Caroline Harvey was named Defender of the Month.

McNaughton is tied for the lead nationally and leads the WCHA in shutouts with five. The Seven Fields, Pennsylvania, native has a save percentage of 0.952 this season, enough to lead the WCHA and coming in second nationally. The sophomore’s save percentage of 1.087 is likewise the best in the WCHA and second-best nationally.

Edwards leads the WCHA in goals scored and goals per game. She’s third in assists and assists per game in the WCHA behind only fellow Badgers Harvey and Casey O’Brien. In November, she enjoyed two two-goal games against Bemidji State and Maine. She’s second in the league in points behind only O’Brien.

Harvey leads all WCHA blueliners and defenders in the nation in assists per game and points per game. The Badger co-captain recorded a point in seven out of the eight November matchups. The Salem, New Hampshire, native posted five multi-point games in November, including one three-point game and one four-point game. She’s tied for second overall and first amongst WCHA defenders with four power-play goals.

 

4. WHAT A YEAR

The Badgers will close out 2024 calendar year in Mankato. Coming into the series, they've played 41 games in 2024, and have posted a whopping 38-3-0 record. The Badgers have outscored their opponents 215-52 in the 2024 calendar year.

With the 2024 calendar year coming to a close for the Badgers with this series, they've posted a 0.927 win percentage and a sweep of Minnesota State would bring them to a 0.930 win percentage on the calendar year.

5. AGAINST THE MAVERICKS

The Badgers and Mavericks have met consistently since the inception of the Badgers program in 1999. In the 111 meetings, the Badgers have only lost three games, with only one loss coming in Mankato back in 2020.

Wisconsin’s largest margin of victory was 9-0 victory at LaBahn Arena back in October of 2023.

The Badgers have won 16-straight against the Mavericks, with Wisconsin’s most recent defeat coming in 2020 in Mankato.

In the 63 times the two teams have met in Mankato, Wisconsin firmly holds a 46-1-2 advantage.