ADRIAN, Mich. - This weekend, the Adrian women's NCAA hockey team will return from a near two-week hiatus for a trip up north to Finlandia University. The two-day series with the Lions will follow a quick pit-stop in Appleton, Wisconsin, where the Bulldogs (7-5-1, 4-0-0 NCHA) will take-on Lawrence University.

The locals and the Vikings were originally scheduled to meet at Arrington Ice Arena back on January 14th and 15th. However, COVID protocols forced the two schools to reconsider their meeting, and eventually reset it, or at least half of it for Thursday afternoon.

Lawrence University represents the 44th different opponent over the local's 15-year regular-season and postseason history.

The school first introduced women's varsity hockey into their ranks in June of 2019, and immediately became the tenth member of the Norther Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA).

On February 13, 2021, the team made its debut against the College of St. Scholastica, falling by a score of 9 to 1.

Through 20 games all-time, the young club has yet to record a tally in the win column, most recently dropping a pair to Wisconsin-Stevens Points back on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

On the current season, Lawrence is led in scoring by junior Lauren Askenazy with one goal and two assists.

Lindsey Gulliksen (one goal and one assist) and Aislinn O'Hagan (two assists) have contributed two points to an offense that has garnered two of its three total goals from powerplay opportunities.

Gulliksen, herself has provided one man-advantage goal, while Maggie Macneil, the only other Viking to have recorded a goal this season, is responsible for the other.

In goal, sophomore Sydney Seeley has seen a majority of the time in the paint for her squad, making 233 saves en route to a 0.863 save-percentage in nine appearances.

Puck-drop for Thursday's action is slated for 4 p.m. EST at the Appleton Ice Arena. Unfortunately, visiting fans will not be permitted inside the arena due to Lawrence University's COVID protocols, but a live stream of the game will be available.

Then, on Friday afternoon, the black and gold begin their two-day, two-game conference series with Finlandia.

The Lions, much like Lawrence, are without a win through the first three months of the regular-season.

India Charles leads Finlandia with four points on three assists and one goal, while Jayde Pederson, Breanna Bisek and Michaela Powers have each chipped in three points through 13 games.

The northern-Michigan program has rotated between three goalies throughout the 2021-22 season, including Laney Pasemko, who has made a team-high nine appearances en route to a 0.924 save-percentage and 3.05 goals-against average.

On the opposite end of the ice, Sophie Goldberg is projected to be back in the Adrian line-up after missing time due to COVID-19 protocols.

In fact, a significant bulk of the Bulldogs' roster is on track to return against Lawrence this weekend after not traveling with the team to Minnesota earlier this month.

Karmen Anderson (six goals and six assists) and Une Bjelland (seven goals and five assists) have been key contributors for the locals so far this season, each totaling 12 points.

Senior captain, Jessica VonRuden is actively tied with Bjelland for the team-lead in goal scoring, while Brooke Schembri is currently knotted with Anderson with a team-high six assists.

As a team, Adrian boasts the conference's third-best powerplay (0.179) and second-most effective penalty kill (0.891), even posting a NCHA-best three shorthanded goals.

Between the pipes, Goldberg has continued to climb among the league's best netminders. The junior sports a 0.929 save-percentage (fourth-best in NCHA), and the conference's lowest goals-against average at 1.48.

Teammate Gwen Bowler, who recorded a 0.885 save-percentage in three starts with the Bulldogs in Minnesota, ranks eighth in the NCHA in goals-against average (2.61).

Both contests at Finlandia will include a live stream.