Box Score   Mankato, Minn. --- For the second consecutive night Minnesota State went top-to-toe with the third-ranked team in the nation, only to come out on the short end of a one-goal loss.

The Mavericks, who dropped a 4-3 decision to visiting Denver Friday, fell by a 3-2 margin to the Pioneers in Saturday's rematch with the story much the same as the previous evening.

Denver jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead on goals by Chris Knowlton at 1:14 and Daniel Doremus at 9:40.  The host Mavericks got one back when senior forward Eriah Hayes scored his fourth goal of the year at 15:07 after beating DU netminder Juho Olkinuora with a shot from in front of the net.

The score remained that way until the Mavericks the tied it up in the third period on another power play goal. At 2:42 junior defenseman Josh Nelson's shot from the point found its way through a maze of bodies for his second goal of the year.  Denver got the game-winning goal at 16:48 on a Knowlton slapshot that beat Minnesota State freshman Stephon Williams along the ice.

The Mavericks owned a 32-23 advantage in shots on goal in the game and converted on two of nine power play chances.  DU was zero-for-two in power play opportunities in the game.

The loss drops MSU to 3-5-2 overall, 1-5-0 WCHA, while the Pioneers are 7-1-0 overall and 5-1-0 in league contests.

Minnesota State head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game: