Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State used a three-goal third-period surge and then went on to down visiting RPI 4-3 in overtime in a non-conference men’s hockey game played in Mankato Saturday night.

RPI got on the board in the first period with a power play goal scored by sophomore forward Zach Schroeder from the slot that beat Maverick goaltender,  Phil Cook high on the stick side at 2:15. MSU had a 17 to 5 shot advantage in the period.

RPI struck again in the second period with a power play goal scored by sophomore forward Matt Neal, who collected his own rebound  in front of the net at 17:46 to take a 2-0 lead.

 MSU finally got rolling in the third period, first on a goal scored by junior forward Johnny McInnis, who tipped a shot by freshman defenseman Jon Jutzi from the point past RPI goaltender Bryce Merriam at 1:02 in the period. MSU scored again, tying the game at 3:39 on a shot by senior forward Eli Zuck, who scored from in front of the net when he put it up high over the left shoulder of RPI goaltender Bryce Merriam. MSU took its first lead at 5:05 when freshman forward Dylan Margonari went hard to the net off of the half boards and  beat Merriam low on stick side. The goal was Margonari’s first career goal at MSU. RPI sent the game into overtime after sophomore forward Matt Neal swatted the puck past Cook at 18:24 to tie the game,

Senior forward Eriah Hayes won it at 1:09 of the extra session after taking a pass from sophomore forward Matt Leitner, who had won the faceoff in RPI’s defensive zone. The goal is Hayes' second of the season.

Junior forward Johnny McInnis has scored a goal in three consecutive games and Hayes enjoyed a two-point night - in addition to his game-winning goal in OT, he also had an assist on Zuck’s goal.

The Mavericks owned a 38-33 advantage in shots on goal and went two-for-four in man advantage situations.
MSU is now 2-0-2 and takes on  St. Cloud State next Friday at the National Hockey Center in St.Cloud, Minn.

Eriah Hayes comments following Saturday's win.