Mankato, Minn.  ---  Minnesota State could not hold off third-rated Minnesota Duluth Friday in the first round of the WCHA play-offs, falling 4-2 to the defending national champions.

UMD sophomore forward J.T. Brown gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead when he spun around from 15 feet out and fired a shot that beat senior Austin Lee on the stick side at 11:31 of the opening period.

Brady Lamb made it a 2-0 UMD lead at 1:06 of the second, but when MSU freshman Max Gaede unloaded a shot that beat Kenny Reiter at 5:29 for his third goal of the year, the Mavericks made it a one-goal game.  Senior forward Joe Schiller beat Reiter with a shot from the far wall at 19:15 to make it 2-2 at the end of two periods of play.

Lamb’s second goal of the game, which came when his shot from the point found its way in to the back of MSU’s net at 11:58 of the third period, proved to be the game-winning goal.  An empty-net tally with less than ten seconds remaining gave the Bulldogs the 4-2 victory.

The Mavericks, who went zero-for-one in power play chances, where outshot by a 38-28 margin.  UMD was zero-for two in opportunities with the man advantage.

Now 12-2321 overall, the Mavericks will have to win tomorrow night in order to stay alive in the best-of-three series.  Face-off at AMSOIL Arena in downtown Duluth Saturday is slated for 7:07 p.m.

Head coach Troy Jutting comments following the game: