Minneapolis, Minn.  ---  Fourth-rated Minnesota used two third-period goals to pull away from visiting Minnesota State in claiming a 4-2 victory Friday in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action.

Minnesota struck first with a goal by Taylor Mattson that he snapped from between the circles that beat Austin Lee on the stick side at 1:38.  The Mavericks responded at 8:04 after junior defenseman Evan Mosey’s shot from the blue line skipped through the pads of Gopher netminder Kent Patterson.  The goal is the first of the season for Mosey.

became a 2-1 Gopher lead at 3:38 of the second period after Nick Larson lifted a shot over Lee’s shoulder on the short side.  The Mavericks responded on the power play at 9:28 on a scramble in front of the net that ended with freshman forward J.P. Lafontaine backhanding it in for his team-leading eighth goal of the season.

Erik Haula one-timed a shot from the point with Minnesota on the power play that got past Lee at 4:51 of the third period with what proved to be the game-winning goal.  Jake Hansen added an empty-netter at 19:24 to close out the scoring in the game.

Minnesota, which went one-for-five in power play chances, outshot the Mavericks by a 30-28 margin.  MSU was successful on one-of-five power play opportunities.

Now 3-11-1, 2-8-1 WCHA on the year, the Mavericks close out the two-game league series with Minnesota Saturday night with a 7:07 p.m. face-off scheduled for Mariucci Arena.

Head coach Troy Jutting comments following game:

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