Grand Forks, N.D.  ---  Minnesota State found itself trailing by two goals early in the first period and could not overcome the deficit, falling to #5 North Dakota, 3-2, in Grand Forks, N.D., Saturday.

 

Goals by Mike Frattin at 3:29 and Mike Cichy at 4:28 staked UND to an early 2-0 first-period lead.  The Mavericks pulled within one at the 19-minute mark with Geoff Irwin scoring on a rebound with MSU on the power play.  The goal is Irwin’s sixth of the year.

 

The two teams battled through a scoreless middle frame and after UND tallied a power play goal on a backhander by Jason Gregoire at 9:42 of the third stanza, it became a 3-1 Fighting Sioux lead.   Junior defenseman Channing Boe wired a shot from the top of the circle past Brad Eidsness on the glove side at 14:36 for his second goal of the year to cut the lead to 3-2 and that’s how the game ended.

 

Now 7-4-1 in its last 12 games, MSU was outshot by a 34-22 margin in the game.

 

The Mavericks are now 11-12-2 overall and 5-10-1 WCHAfor 2009-10.

 

MSU continues Western Collegiate Hockey Association action next weekend with Minnesota-Duluth visiting Mankato Friday and Saturday.

 

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