Minneapolis, Minn.  ---  Minnesota State rallied after falling behind by a 3-0 first-period margin to fourth-rated Minnesota Saturday in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action, but could not come all the way back in absorbing a 3-2 defeat.

The Gophers jumped out to a 3-0 first-period advantage. Seth Ambroz scored a rebound goal at 2:37 and Taylor Mattson’s wrist shot from in front of the net at 2-0 made it a 2-0 lead.  Kyle Rau then scored at 18:41 on the backdoor after taking a nice pass from the far wall from Mark Alt.

Sophomore forward Zach Lehrke’s power play marker at 2:32 of the second cut the lead to two.

Lehrke scored again on the power play when he one-timed a shot past UM’s Kent Patterson at the 4:00 mark of the third period with the Mavericks on a five-on-three opportunity to round out the scoring in the game.

Freshman forward Jean-Paul Lafontaine assisted on both Lehrke goals and now has 8-5—13 in 16 games to lead MSU in scoring.

Minnesota, which went one-for-five in power play chances, outshot the Mavericks by a 40-28 margin.  MSU was successful two-of-nine power play opportunities.

Now 3-12-1, 2-9-1 WCHA on the year, the Mavericks host Alabama-Huntsville in a pair of nonconference contests in Mankato next Friday and Saturday.

Head coach Troy Jutting comments following game:


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