Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State stood tied with second-rated Minnesota after two periods of play at 3-3, but two markers late in the final stanza gave the Mavericks 5-3 victory over the favored Gophers in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game played in Mankato Saturday night.

 MSU struck first when junior defenseman Josh Nelson's shot from the point at 7:20 of the first period got by Aaron Wilcox high on the stickside. MSU struck again on a power play goal at 9:54 when Zach Lehrke, who took a pass from Matt Leitner, wristed a shot past  Wilcox at 9:54 of the period. Minnesota got on the board at 16:40 after Erik Haula slid the puck the past MSU goaltender Phil Cook.

Minnesota evened things up with power play goal by Nick Bjugstad at 00:56 of the second period off a centering pass from Kyle Rau. MSU answered right back when Johnny Mcinnis collected a rebound in front of the net and pushed the puck past Wilcox at 12:14. Minnesota responded again, tying it on a Nate Condon goal at 12:40 of the period.

Then, at 16:09 of the final period, freshman forward Dylan Margonari got his first career game winning goal by taking a on a centering pass from Max Gaede and then wired a shot that beat Wilcox blocker-side.  Sophomore forward Jean-Paul Fontaine rounded out the scoring by back-handing a long shot into an empty net at 19:48.

Minnesota State, now 3-3-2 overall and 1-2-0 in WCHA games on the season,  outshot Minnesota 36-28 in the win.

The Mavericks were one-for-six on the power play, while Minnesota connected on one of five chances with the man advantage.  Cook had 25 saves on the night for the Mavericks. The game was played in front of 4,854 fans at Verizon Wireless Center.

MSU will take on the University of Denver next Friday and Saturday in a pair of league games at Verizon Wireless Center in downtown Mankato.

Freshman forward Dylan Margonari commented following the game.