Denver, Colo.-- Minnesota State dropped a 3-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association tilt to 15th-ranked Denver Friday evening. The loss was just MSU's second in seven games against the Pioneers.
The Pioneers got off to an early start as sophomore Drew Shore scored his team-leading eighth goal. Shore split the defense and beat Phil Cook low stick side at the 5:56 mark in the first period.
Shortly after a MSU power-play ended, MSU junior Justin Jokinen tied the game when he sniped freshman goalie Sam Brittain upper shelf glove side at 13:56 into the first. The Jokinen goal was assisted by junior Joe Schiller and freshman John McInnis.
At the end of the first period, the two teams were dead even with 12 shots a piece, with Cook making a couple key saves keeping the Mavericks in the game.
Denver outshot the Minnesota State in the second period 14-12, with each team scoring a goal.
The Pioneers went ahead as Luke Salazar snuck a goal past Cook after a pass from defenseman Matt Donovan, with the second assist going to John Ryder. This is Salazar's fifth goal of the season.
Minnesota State sophomore forward Eriah Hayes evened the game up as he put the jets on in the neutral zone to score a back-handed goal over Brittain's shoulder.
David Makowski of Denver would eventually get the game-winning goal on the power-play at 14:11 in the third period. The goal came from a John Lee shot from the point as Makowski screened Cook and tipped it in.
The Mavericks continued to struggle on the power-play as they went 0-for-7 on the night while the Pioneers went 1-for-5 on the power-play, with the power-play goal being the deciding factor.
Overall MSU was outshot 38-33 in the contest.
Minnesota State (2-5-4 overall, 2-5-2 WCHA) will play Denver tomorrow at 7:07 p.m. (M.T.) at Magnuss arena.
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