MINOT, N.D. – Two more games at home, then the Beavers begin their postseason push.

The 3^rd-ranked Minot State women's hockey team is home this Friday and Saturday at the Maysa Arena, set to host the University of Minnesota in the final two home games before opening postseason action. Puck-drop both days is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.

And as part of the final two home games, the Beavers (13-6-7 overall, 9-6-3 WMCH) will honor 6 seniors on Saturday who will make their final laps around the Pepsi Rink: Makenna Beard, Maddie Beek, Journey Miller, Olivia Opheim, Cameron Schmidt, and Abby Tallman.

Miller, Tallman, and Schmidt lead the way in points this season for the Beavers, with Miller scoring 11 goals and adding 4 assists, while Tallman has 6 goals and 8 assists, and Schmidt has netted 5 goals and added 8 assists, as well, for a balanced Minot State offensive attack.

Krissy Rink is close behind with 6 goals and 5 helpers.

While they lead a balanced Beaver attack, sophomore Jillian Ackerman has been Minot State's go-to goalie with 9 wins, 6 shutouts, a 1.47 goals against average, and a 94.8 save percentage.

But against a Minnesota team boasting a 4-21-1 overall record this season and that has scored just 39 goals as a team, Minot State's freshmen goalies Hannah Palumbo and Bailey Grunewald might get the opportunity to see action. The duo have combined for 4 wins in 5 games, with Palumbo posting a shutout, so far in their debut season.

Junior Kate Hill, senior Laramie Prell, and sophomore Kiley Wrzos lead the way offensively for Minnesota. Hill has 8 of the Golden Gophers goals, along with 4 assists, while Prell has put 7 pucks in the net and added 7 assists, and Wrzos has 5 goals and 8 assists.

The Golden Gophers have used a trio of goalies equally this season in Lucy Nelson, who has 2 wins, along with Nicole James, who has a win and a shutout, and Timberlyn Mazeikis, who also has a win and a shutout.

Following this weekend's action, the Beavers head to the WMCH Tournament hosted by Midland in Fremont, Nebraska, February 19-21.

Minot State will play two more regular-season games at Jamestown on February 27 and 28, giving the Beavers some competitive ice-time during a 4-week hiatus between postseason tournaments, then head to the ACHA National Tournament in Maryland Heights, Missouri, which begins March 18.