Minnesota State hosts Long Island University for Season Opener – Minnesota State University

MANKATO, Minn. — Minnesota State women’s hockey hosts its home opener at the Mayo Clinic Health System Events Center to face off with the Long Island University Sharks, marking the start of the regular season. Game times are Friday at 6 p.m. CT and Saturday at 3 p.m. CT 

LIU (0-0-0,0-0-0 NEWHA) is a member of the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance. The Sharks finished their season last year with (28-9-0) overall record and a (26-2-0) conference record finishing first in the NEWHA.  

Last Time Out:  

Minnesota State finished last season 13-25-0 overall record and a 6-22-0 conference record. The 2023-24 season ended in Minneapolis, Minnesota with back-to-back defeats in the WCHA Quarterfinals. The Mavericks did win game one of the series 5-4. 

The Mavericks head into the season picked seventh in the WCHA preseason coaches’ poll with 15 points.  

MSU looks to lean on returning point leaders, including graduate students Sydney Langseth and Jamie Nelson. Nelson and Langseth led the Mavericks offensively. Nelson finished the 2023-24 season with 20 goals and 10 assists while Langseth finished with 15 goals and 17 assists.  

In goal, senior Suzette Faucher, sophomore Hailey Hansen, and transfer graduate student Jessie McPherson all played in Saturday’s exhibition against Manitoba in Richmond, Minnesota. Faucher held a 3.34 goals against average and a .891 save percentage. Hansen had a 3.20 goals against average and an .885 save percentage. McPherson is a transfer from Vermont. She won five straight starts from Oct. 20- Nov. 21 with a 1.98 goals against average.  

Taking on LIU:

The Sharks were slated first in the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) Preseason Coaches’ Poll and added four new players to its squad, including three forwards and one defender.  

LIU finished its 2023-24 campaign by losing in overtime to Franklin Pierce in the NEWHA Championship game with the final score being 3-4. The offense is led by junior Jeannie Wallner (Kings Park, N.Y.) who last season registered 20 goals and 14 assists. In goal, junior Tindra Holm finished last season with a 1.94 goals against average and a .940 save percentage.  

The last time the Mavericks faced the Sharks was two years ago, while the Mavericks won both games with a final score of 5-1 and 8-1.  

Throughout the season, fans can watch all WCHA home games via the Big Ten Plus on-demand streaming service.  To subscribe to Big Ten Plus for 2024-25, please visit www.bigtenplus.com/.