Link to ACHA women's poll

FREMONT, Neb. - The postseason begins Thursday for the 4th ranked Minot State women's hockey team, which begins play with a quarterfinal matchup with the Maryville Saints at the WMCH Tournament. 

Puck drop for the quarterfinal matchup is scheduled for 11 am. 

The two teams faced off back in early October at the Maysa Arena, splitting a pair of games as Jillian Ackerman made 20 saves in a 3-0 Minot State win before the Saints evened the series with a 5-1 victory. 

The Beavers have been playing their best hockey since the turn of the new calendar year, going unbeaten with an 8-0-2 mark since returning to the ice after the holiday break. 

That includes back-to-back shutouts at home last weekend, 7-0 and 4-0 on in's over visiting Minnesota. 

Despite those two wins, the Beavers (15-6-7 overall) slipped from No. 3 to No. 4 in this weeks ACHA poll behind No. Liberty, No. 2 Midland - the WMCH Tournament host - and now No. 3 McKendree. 

That means a win Thursday sends the Beavers into a semifinal matchup with the winner of No. 1 Liberty and unranked Minnesota. 

Friday's semifinal are scheduled for 5 and 8 pm. Thursday's losers play consolation games on Friday at 11 am and 2 pm. 

The WMCH Championship game is slated for 3 pm on Saturday.