Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State converted on three power play chances in claiming a 4-2 nonconference home win over Alabama-Huntsville in Mankato Friday.

The Mavericks found the net first in the opening frame when junior Eriah Hayes scored a power play goal off a rebound shot by senior Joe Schiller at 2:30.  Alabama-Huntsville answered with a goal of its own at 8:34 when sophomore Lasse Uusivirta beat senior goaltender Austin Lee on a one-timer from the point. The third goal of the period came off a perfectly executed play when freshman Matt Leitner found fellow freshman Jean-Paul Lafontaine skating down the middle of the ice and his wrist shot blew past goaltender Clarke Saunders at the 15:16 mark for his team-high ninth goal of the year.

With both teams going scoreless in the second period, Minnesota State took advantage of a power play in the third when sophomore Johnny McInnis ripped a slapper from the  right dot at the 7:09 mark and recorded the third goal for the Mavericks.  The Chargers returned the favor one minute later when Kyle Lysaght scored making the game 3-2.  Sophomore Zach Lehrke scored a power play goal on an empty net with thirty seconds remaining in the game to close out the scoring.

MSU, which converted on three of five power play chances, outshot the Chargers by a 39-21 margin in the game.

Lehrke's goal extended his scoring streak to five games (5-3--8) and Lafontaine now owns a four-game scoring streak (3-2--5).

The Mavericks, which snapped a seven-game winless streak with the win, are now 4-12-1 overall and 2-9-1 in WCHA action, while Alabama Huntsville drops to 1-16-1 overall.
 
MSU and UAH complete the two-game league series Saturday with a 7:07 p.m. face-off scheduled at Verizon Wireless Center in downtown Mankato.

Head coach Troy Jutting comments following the game: