Minneapolis, Minn.  ---    Minnesota State downed Minnesota, 3-1, in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game played at UM’s Mariucci Arena Friday night.

 

The two teams traded goals in the first period with Minnesota drawing first blood on a Jake Hansen snap shot from the slot that beat MSU sophomore netminder Austin Lee at 8:37. The Mavericks responded on the power play at 15:12 with senior forward Jerad Stewart tipping Zach Harrison’s shot past Kent Patterson low on the glove side.

 

The two teams battled through a scoreless second period and after two periods of play the Mavericks held a 29-15 advantage in shots on goal.

 

After a nice pass from sophomore forward Mike Louwerse, junior center Rylan Galiardi wired a shot that beat Patterson on the stickside with what proved to be the game-winning goal at 12:25 of the third period. Senior center Zach Harrison, who also had an assist on Stewart’s goal, tallied an empty-netter at 19:29 to close out the scoring.

 

MSU, which put a season-high 42 shots on goal, beat the Gophers for the third straight time dating back to last season. The Mavericks, who now stand 7-7-1 on the year, 5-7-1 WCHA, have won four of their last five games.

 

Minnesota, which went zero-for-one with the man advantage, now stand 5-9-1, 3-7-1 WCHA on the year. MSU converted on one-of-five power plays.

 

The Mavericks and the Gophers conclude the two-game league series Saturday with a 7:07 p.m. face-off scheduled in Mankato at Verizon Wireless Center.

 

 

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