LINK TO AHCA POLL

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – It'll be an all-North Dakota battle to start the Women's Midwest College Hockey Tournament as the 3^rd-seeded Minot State Beavers take on sixth-seeded Jamestown on Thursday at 2:45 p.m. in Missouri.

The Beavers (20-9-2 overall) have faced off eight times already this season against the Jimmies (9-18-0), who are in their first year as an ACHA Division I program. All eight of those games went the Beavers way with the closest contest a 4-3 overtime win for Minot State in the team's first-ever meeting.

Balance has been key to Minot State's success this season as Jordan Kulbida leads a team with three double-digit scorers as she has 17 goals and 11 assists. Gillian Gervin has 14 goals and six assists – which includes a four-goal explosion against Jamestown on Feb. 4 – and Sydney Spicer has scored 13 goals and has eight assists.

Adding to that offensive balance are Anna German and Megan Norris who each have eight goals while German has 18 assists and Norris has 17 assists.

While balance is key offensively, it's also key in goal as all-time career shutout leader Jordan Ivanco and sophomore Haylie Biever have provided a great one-two backstop. Ivanco has three shutouts this season, a 7-4-1 record, and a 2.13 goals against average, while Biever has one shutout, a 6-4-0 record, and a 2.61 GAA.

As for the Jimmies, Crystal Wale and Bethany Wielgosh lead the way offensively as both have nine goals and 12 assists, while Lilah Drew has been leading the way in goal with a 6-8-0 record, the team's lone shutout, and a 3.95 GAA.

The winner of meeting-No. 9 between the in-state foes gets a spot in the semifinals on Friday at 4:45 p.m. against the winner of No. 4 seeded McKendree (Ill.) and tournament host and No. 5 seed Maryville.

Head-to-head, the Beavers split a two-game series with both the Bearcats and the Saints.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 2-seed Midland plays No. 7 seed Lindenwood, and top-seeded Liberty plays No. 8 seed Minnesota. The winners of those games meet in Friday's other semifinals.

The WMCH Championship game is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25.
 
Beavers slip to No. 3 in national poll
MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State women's hockey team slipped one spot after a loss and tie on the road at Midland, landing at No. 3 in this week's ACHA Division I poll.

Liberty (Va.) remained the top team in the poll, and fueled by a win and a tie with Minot State, Midland (Neb.) jumped to No. 2 in the poll.

Indiana Tech is No. 4, followed by Adrian (Mich.) at No. 5, McKendree (Ill.) is No. 6, and Maryville (Mo.) is No. 7.