Box Score    Mankato, Minn. --- Ninth- rated Minnesota State used a balanced attack, getting goals from four different players, en route to 4-2 victory over visiting Michigan Tech in a men's Western Collegiate Hockey Association game played in Mankato Friday.

Michigan Tech opened up the scoring in the first period on a power play goal scored by freshman forward Alex Petan on a feed from freshman forward Jujhar Kharia that got by MSU freshman goaltender Stephon Williams at 04:35. MSU countered with a power play goal of its own when freshman forward Dylan Margonari skated into the offensive zone and took a shot that beat Michigan Tech freshman goaltender Phoenix Copley at 13:41.

MSU took a 2-1 lead in the second period on an unassisted goal scored by senior forward Eriah Hayes, who collected the puck in front of the net on a MTU clearing attempt and wristed a shot that beat Copley at 01:07. Hayes leads the Mavericks in goals on the season with 17.

Michigan Tech answered right back on a power play scored by Petan, who's shot that beat Williams high over the shoulder at 10:38. MSU took a 3-2 lead on a goal scored by junior forward Johnny Mcinnis at 13:38 when he beat Copely from 40 feet out. The goal proved to be the fifth game-wining goal of the season for McInnis.

MSU furthered their lead in the third period on a goal scored by sophomore forward Matt Leitner at 03:31. Chase Grant assisted on the goal, as did McInnis.

The Mavericks out shot Michigan Tech 36-22 on the night. The Mavericks were one-for-seven on the power play, while Michigan Tech was two-for-six with the man advantage.

The game was played in front of 3,591 fans at the Verizon Wireless Center.

Minnesota State is now 19-9-3 overall and 13-9-1 in WCHA games on the season and the Mavericks have now won 16 of their last 21 games.

The Mavericks and the Huskies close out the two-game series Saturday night with a 7:07 p.m. face-off.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented after the game.