CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – The Minot State women's hockey team opened the postseason in convincing fashion Friday night, rolling to an 11-1 win over the University of Minnesota.

Minot State's fifth straight win over the Golden Gophers this season, the victory advances the Beavers (24-5-1 overall) into the semifinals of the WMCH Tournament against a very familiar foe in No. 3-ranked Midland (Neb.). The two teams play Saturday at 7:15 p.m. in Missouri.

The teams faced off in a pair of games last weekend at Maysa Arena, with the Warriors taking both games, 3-2 and 1-0 in overtime. Midland advanced to the WMCH semifinals with a 5-0 win over McKendree on Friday.

Megan Norris scored her first of three goals on the night with just 1 minute, 33 seconds gone, opening the offensive floodgates for Minot State.

Just 1:25 later, Makena Welby scored what proved to be the game-winner, then Haley Wickham scored her first of three with 11:08 left in the first for a 3-0 lead.

Paige Ackerman pushed the Minot State lead to 4-0 with 6:31 left before the first intermission before the Golden Gophers got on the board.

Norris then scored her second of the period with 1:14 left on the clock for a 5-1 lead, then it was all Minot State the rest of the way.

Wickham and Norris each completed their hat tricks in the second period, and the Beavers also got a goal each from Denali Sigurdson and Ackerman for a 10-1 lead.

Aspen Cooper capped the scoring with a third-period goal for Minot State.

Norris and Wickham also added three assists each in the win, while Mackenzie Heide and Alisha O'Hara each had a pair of assists, and Ackerman, Cooper, Sigurdson, and Krissy Rink also added an assist each.

Jordan Ivanco made 22 saves in the win in goal for the Beavers, who outshot Minnesota 44-23 on the night.