Box Score     Mankato, Minn.  ---  Junior forward Matt Leitner and senior forward Zach Lehrke each enjoyed  three-point games in leading Minnesota State to a 6-2 home Western Collegiate Hockey Association win over second-rated Ferris State Friday in Mankato.
To say the Mavericks got out fast would be an understatement.

Junior forward Matt Leitner one-timed a rocket from the right circle past C.J. Motte at 3:28 of the first period.  Then, just 17 seconds later, senior forward Zach Lehrke beat Motte after taking a pass from the side of the net from Jean-Paul Lafontaine.   The Bulldogs got one back at 11:24 of the opening stanza on a shot from the right face-off dot by T.J. Schlueter and the first period ended with the Mavericks owning a 2-1 lead.

Senior forward Johnny McInnis got his eighth goal of the season when he tapped in a cross ice pass from Dylan Margonari at 5:50 of the second.  Eventually the goal by the Boston, Mass., native proved to be his 11th career game-winning goal. A long shot from the point by FSU defenseman Brandon Anselmini  found the twine behind Cole Huggins at 11:21, but Leitner tallied his second of the night at 17:54 after he got his own rebound and slid the puck underneath Motte to give the Mavericks a 4-2 lead after two periods of play.

McInnis scored again at 1:45 of the third, converting on a breakaway after taking a pass from Margonari at center ice. Then, at 4:24, Lafontaine made it 6-2 with his 11^th goal of the year.

Leitner finished with two goals and an assist, while Lehrke had a goal and two assists. Sophomore forward Dylan Margonari had two assists and was +2 in the game.

Minnesota State freshman goaltender Cole Huggins stopped 29 FSU shots in the and now stands 9-5-0 for the year.  Minnesota State, which was penalized seven times times for 14 minutes in the game, went two-for-five on the power play.

MSU now stands 13-10-0, 11-6-0 WCHA for 2013-14. Ferris State is 17-4-3, 12-1-2 WCHA.

The two teams close out the two-game league series Saturday with a 7:07 p.m. face-off scheduled at Verizon Wireless Center.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.




 
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