LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Beavers haven't traveled much this season, but now they head out for the biggest trip of the season to date.

The fifth-ranked Minot State women's hockey team heads to Virginia to take on No. 1 Liberty in a three-game series starting Thursday night hosted by the Flames, the two-time defending ACHA Division I National Championships.

A very tough foe for the Beavers who haven't shied away from battling the best as Minot State is 1-1 against No. 2-ranked Adrian (Mich.), 1-2-1 versus No. 3-ranked Midland (Neb.), and 1-1 against No. 4-ranked Indiana Tech.

But the Flames will be the toughest test of all as Liberty had won 57 straight prior to a 4-3 overtime loss Friday night to McKendree.

Liberty bounced back with a 9-1 win over Lindenwood (Mo.) in its next game, but the Beavers will look to make sure the Flames (18-1-0) don't start a new win streak.

Both teams rely on balance as the Flames offense is led by a trio of double-digit goal scorers in sophomore forward Haley Battles and junior forward Rianna Spanier, who each have 11 goals, and junior forward Brityn Fussy with 10 goals.

They lead an offense that supports goalies Amanda Storey, who has 8 wins, 3 shutouts, a 1.27 goals against average, and a .940 save percentage, and Alexandra Keith who has five wins, 3 shutouts, a 1.16 GAA, and a .943 save percentage.

As for the Beavers, career shutout leader Jordan Ivanco leads the way in net with 5 wins, 3 shutouts this season, a 1.90 GAA, and a .927 save percentage, while Haylie Biever has 4 wins, a shutout, a 2.39 GAA, and a .899 save percentage.

Offensively, senior forward Jordan Kulbida leads an equally balanced attack with 13 goals, while Sydney Spicer has 10 goals, and Megan Norris has 7 goals and 15 assists as she shares the team lead of 22 points with Kulbida.

As far as head-to-head meetings go, the Flames have a pair of wins over Minot State, a 2-1 win in overtime in the WMCH tournament in March of 2021, and 2-1 win in March of 2020.