MINOT, N.D. – The Beavers are set for their biggest road-trip of the season.

The sicth-ranked Minot State women's hockey team plays six games over an eight-day stretch against three Top-10 foes starting Saturday, a week-long trip that will have a major impact on the ACHA National Championship playoff picture.

"This is a crucial weekend for our program," Minot State head coach Ryan Miner said. "We are facing three top-10 opponents and earning wins will help us down the stretch in the rankings. We will focus on one game at a time knowing that each opponent will give us their best."

The week starts with a big rivalry matchup as No. 4-ranked Lindenwood (Mo.) hosts the Beavers (14-3-0 overall, 6-1-0 WMCH) Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Last season, the Beavers beat the Lions 4-1 in the WMCH tournament, but Lindenwood (12-3-1, 6-1-1) got payback by ending Minot State's season with a 3-0 win over the Beavers in the ACHA national semifinals.

"To put it in the nicest way possible, there is bad blood between our programs," Miner said.

The week-long trip continues Tuesday and Wednesday with Minot State playing at fifth-ranked McKendree (Ill.) at 2:30 p.m. each day. The two teams also played at nationals last year with the Beavers scoring a 7-0 win over the Bearcats (7-3-0, 3-2-0).

The road-trip wraps up at Maryville (Mo.) with the ninth-ranked Saints (10-8-1) hosting Minot State on Friday and Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Scouting the Lions
This contest has the makings of another national semifinal game with both teams ranked in the top six, both teams having recently posted big road wins over second-ranked Adrian (Mich.), and as Coach Miner said, both teams eyeing the contest as a true rivalry.

"Our players are hungry," Minot State's coach said. "In the back of their minds, they know what last year's outcome was and are looking for redemption. It will be a hard-fought, physical series that will come down to the final buzzer.

"Speed and physicality will be our main points knowing that we have to produce early to get an advantage," Miner added. "Lindenwood is known for capitalizing on mistakes so we will have to limit turnovers to the best of our ability."

The Lions have netted nine power-play goals, taking advantage of opponent's mistakes, and have balanced scoring led by Kennedy Frank, who has netted seven goals and 10 assists, while Risa Shatford and Mackenzie Drost each have six goals, along with seven and three assists, respectively. Frank and Shatford each had a goal in the Lions' semifinal win over Minot State last spring.

In goal, the Lions have a pair of talented netminders they turn to in Emily McDonald (7-1-1), who made 41 saves in that win over the Beavers at nationals, and Maia Busi (5-2-0). McDonald boasts a 1.69 goals against average and a .914 save percentage this season while Busi has a 2.49 GAA and a .901 save percentage.

Along with having home ice, Lindenwood also will have one additional advantage over the Beavers when the puck drops Saturday evening – the Lions host Midland on Friday, their first game in more than a month as they'll get the chance to knock some rust off their game after the holiday break. Saturday's contest will be the first for the Beavers since a 5-1 win over Dakota College at Bottineau for Minot State on Dec. 12.

Scouting the Bearcats
While Saturday night's game at Lindenwood will be the first if more than a month for the Beavers, Minot State gets to flip that script at McKendree on Tuesday as it will be the Bearcats who hit the ice rusty, having not played since prior to Thanksgiving.

The Beavers will look to take advantage of that fact against a McKendree team that also is balanced offensively as Cassidy Dion has six goals and three assists, then Camryn Scully, Aria Groot, and Quinn Atchison each have seven assists apiece for the Bearcats. Scully also has scored five goals, Groot four goals, and Atchison three goals.

Like the Lions, the Bearcats also have a pair of strong goaltenders in Brianna Burke (3-1-0) and Naomi Leasck (4-2-0), with Burke posting a 1.52 GAA and a .910 save percentage, and Leasck a 2.22 GAA and a .921 save percentage.

"They have strong goaltending and players that can match our speed," Miner said. "For this series, it will be a matter of getting in those dirty areas and grinding out goals.

"We cannot look too far ahead, but the team will be prepared when the series comes."

Scouting the Saints
The extended road-trip wraps up for the Beavers at ninth-ranked Maryville, a team that also will be returning to the ice for the first time since the first weekend in December, providing a potential edge for the road-weary Beavers.

Unlike their previous opponents, the Beavers definitely will have a "must-stop" player to contend with in Sydney Poisson for the Saints. Poisson leads the ACHA Division I ranks in scoring with 20 goals this season.

Backing her up with 10 goals is Sarah Brooks, while Madelene Johnsen has eight goals and nine assists, and Emma Gerwitz has six goals and 13 assists, leading the way for Maryville.

In goal, the Saints are led by Kaitlyn Cadrain and Sawyer Duncan who share starting duties and each are 4-4-0 on the year. Cadrain has a 2.13 GAA and .931 save percentage, and Duncan has a 2.69 GAA and a .919 save percentage.

About the Beavers
After more than a month, Minot State is ready for its longest and most challenge road-trip of the season, but not looking past game one of the week at Lindenwood on Saturday.

"The team is excited to be back to playing games consistently again," Miner said. "The holiday break is a long one and as nice as it was to rest and reset, there is definitely some anxious excitement to get back. We have been putting in the work over the last couple of weeks to get back into game shape and are prepared for this extended road trip."

In goal, Haylie Biever (5-1-0) and Jordan Ivanco (6-2-0) lead the way as Biever boasts a 1.24 GAA and .949 save percentage, and Ivanco has a 1.45 GAA and a .929 save percentage.

While they allow less than two goals per contest, they get plenty of offensive support from a balanced attack that has four different players leading the way with six goals apiece – Megan Norris (6 goals, 6 assists), Riley Ball (6 goals, 5 assists), Jessica Walker (6 goals, 5 assists), and Haley Wickham (6 goals, 5 assists).

Up next for Minot State
Following the six-game, eight-day road trip, the Beavers get to return home for six in a row to close out the regular season at the Maysa Arena. Minot State's extended homestand begins on Friday and Saturday, January 28-29, as the Beavers host the University of Colorado.