Weekend Preview: Regional Time

No. 14 Minnesota State battles No. 5 Western Michigan in the Loveland Regional Semifinals on Friday at 1:30 PM CT. Just the second-ever meeting between the two programs, but the previous one was a double-overtime thriller in which the Broncos edged the Mavericks, 2-1, in last year's NCAA Tournament.

Notable Links:

No. 14 Minnesota State (22-10-7) vs. No. 5 Western Michigan (26-10-1)
Day/Time: Friday (1:30 PM CT)
TV: ESPN U
Video Stream: ESPN+
Radio: MSU AM 1420
Live Stats: Click Here
Game Notes: MSU | WMU

The Mason Cup Champion Mavericks make their second straight NCAA Tournament apperance and their seventh in the last 10 years (11th overall) on Friday afternoon against Western Michigan, which qualified with at-large bid out of the NCHC.

Minnesota State climbed from fifth place on February 18 to win the MacNaughton Cup as regular season CCHA champions on the final night of the regular season. They defeated Ferris State in three games in the Mason Cup Quarterfinals, before downing Michigan Tech, 7-2, in the semis. In a rematch of last year's Mason Cup Championship Game, MSU topped St. Thomas, 4-2.

Luigi Benincasa rides a five-game goal streak into Friday's game, which is the second-longest active run in college hockey, while Alex Tracy has gone 4-1-0 with a 1.19 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage in March.

The winner of Friday's contest faces the winner of Denver University and Cornell University on Sunday (TBA).