Submitted Photo The Minot State women’s hockey team embraces at their game in their game against the Niagara University Purple Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 9. Photo by Sean Arbaut, courtesy of MSU Athletics.

The Minot State women’s hockey team battled its way to an unbeaten record during a four-game road trip last week, but still slipped in the latest ACHA national poll.

The Beavers checked in at No. 7 in the ACHA Division I Women’s Hockey Poll released this week after Minot State tied Adrian (Mich.) in a pair of games, then tied and picked up a 3-1 win at Niagara (N.Y.), as well.

Minot State (3-2-3 overall) returns home this weekend to host No. 4 Arizona State in the first-ever meeting between the programs. The Sun Devils (4-0-0) leapt six spots in this week’s poll.

Puck drop for Saturday’s game at the Maysa Arena against the Sun Devils is slated for 3:45 p.m., with the teams playing again on Sunday at 1 p.m.

McKendree, who the Beavers split a season-opening series with earlier this month, moved to No. 1 in the ACHA poll for the first time in the Bearcats’ history, while Midland was No. 2, Liberty No. 3, Arizona State No. 4, then came Maryville, which slipped from No. 1 to No. 5. Minot State also split a weekend series with Maryville two weeks ago at the Maysa Arena.