MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — Maine will visit Minnesota on Friday for a women’s NCAA Division I hockey game at Mariucci Arena. The Black Bears enter with a 1-3 record, while the Golden Gophers are 2-0.

Minnesota opened its season with two road wins at Bemidji State. The Golden Gophers won 5-2 before taking the second game 5-3. Anabella Fanale is a player to watch for Minnesota. The center recorded two goals, seven shots on goal and one hit in the 5-3 victory. She also had one shot on goal and two penalty minutes in the 5-2 win. Layla Hemp earned the win in the most recent game with 20 saves on 23 shots, and Carly Humphrey added one goal and two shots on goal.

Maine is 1-3 and most recently fell 3-0 to Saint Lawrence. Lulu Rucinski is a player to watch for Maine. She had four shots on goal in that game. Ali Altiman added two shots on goal and two penalty minutes, while Stella Pittis recorded two shots on goal. Earlier this season, Rucinski had one assist, two shots on goal and four penalty minutes in a 4-3 win over Saint Lawrence. She also posted five shots on goal against Quinnipiac and three shots on goal with two penalty minutes in another game against the Bobcats. Rucinski has recorded 14 shots on goal over Maine’s past four games.

Maine’s other results this season include a 4-1 loss to Quinnipiac and a 2-1 loss to Quinnipiac. The Black Bears have scored six goals and allowed 12 through four games. Minnesota has scored 10 goals and allowed five through two games. The Golden Gophers will play Bemidji State at home after facing Maine. The Black Bears are scheduled to host Bemidji State following this game.

This will be Maine’s first road game of the season and Minnesota’s first home game. Mariucci Arena will host the matchup Friday. Minnesota has received production from Fanale, Hemp and Humphrey during its unbeaten start. Maine will look to Rucinski, Altiman and Pittis for offense after a difficult opening stretch. Maine’s upcoming schedule includes a home game against Bemidji State, a road trip to RPI, home games against Providence, a road series at Boston University, home games against Holy Cross and a road game at Northeastern. Minnesota is set to host Bemidji State, Ohio State and Lindenwood before a road series at Minnesota-Duluth, a home-and-home with Saint Cloud State and a road matchup at St. Thomas.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Minnesota 3, Maine 2.