Box Score    Madison, Wis. --- Minnesota State scored early and never trailed in gaining a 4-2 win at Wisconsin in a men’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association game played in Madison, Wis.,  Saturday night.

The Mavericks took a 3-1 first-period lead in taking early control of the game.  Sophomore forward Matt Leitner beat  Joel Rumpel gloveside at 4:38 in getting things started.  The Badgers responded with a five-on-three power play goal at 6:45, but MSU senior forward Eriah Hayes batted the puck past Rumpel at 13:49 to make it 2-1 and when freshman forward Bryce Gervais scored his second goal of the year after taking Max Gaede’s centering pass at 15:10, the Mavericks entered the locker room at the end of the opening period owning a two-goal lead.

Wisconsin got the only goal of the second period on a deflection by Michael Mersch off of a shot from the point by Jake McCabe just 49 seconds in.

Hayes got his second power play goal of the night after taking a backhand pass from Jean-Paul Lafontaine as the Mavericks made it 4-2 a 3:54 of the final period.

Combined with Friday’s 4-2 win, tonight’s victory gave the Mavericks their first-ever sweep of the Badgers in Madison.

Leitner had a goal and two assists in the win and now has a six-game point scoring streak (2-7—9). Lafontaine contributed two assists and is riding a six-game scoring streak (3-7—10).  Gervais, who scored MSU’s third goal, contributed his first career game-winning goal. Hayes has scored five goals in the last four games and has 7-2—9 in 12 games for the season.

Minnesota State, now 5-5-2 overall and 3-5-0 in WCHA games on the season, was outshot by a 35-29 margin in the game. Williams, who stands 2-3-1 on the season, turned aside 33 shots in getting the decision. The Mavericks finished two-for-six on the power play, while Wisconsin was one-for-five  with the man advantage.  The game was played in front of 10,133 fans at Kohl Center.

MSU returns to Mankato to face Bemidji State next Friday and Saturday in a pair of league games at Verizon Wireless Center in its next action.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the win:
 
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