Mankato, Minn.  --- Second-rated Minnesota State rallied to tie the game three times, but could not pull away from Alaska, eventually falling 5-4 overtime to the visiting Nanooks in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest played in Mankato Friday evening.

Alaska got on the board first when Tyler Morley tapped in a pass from Garrick Perry at 5:16 of the opening stanza.  Minnesota State junior forward Bryce Gervais converted on a rebound off of a shot from the point by sophomore defenseman Carter Foguth at 7:56 in making it a 1-1 game. The goal gives Gervais a team-high ten on the season.The Nanooks regained the lead at 1:51 of the second frame on Tyler Morley's rebound marker.  Junior defenseman Blake Thompson tallied his first career goal when his pass from the side went in off a skate at 15:14 and at the end of two periods of play the score stood 2-2.

Senior forward Matt Leitner rifled a shot over the shoulder of Nanooks netminder Davis Jones 22 seconds into the third period to give the Mavericks their first lead of the night, but the Nanooks scored back-to-back goals, with Tyler Morley's coming at 5:19 and Austin Veith's at 7:32, as Alaska grabbed a 4-3 advantage.  Maverick freshman forward Brad McClure notched his fifth goal of the season at 16:40, knotting things up yet again and after 60 minutes of action, it was 4-4.

The Nanooks ended it at 2:59 of overtime when Veith beat Stephon Williams along the ice on the glove side from right in front of the net.

Minnesota State, which converted on one of six power play chances, outshot Alaska by a 42-26 margin in the game. Gervais, who had a team-high six shots on goal in the contest, had a goal and an assist and senior forward Jean-Paul Lafontaine contributed a pair of helpers.

The Mavericks, who saw their winning streak end at six games, are now 11-4-0 on the season (9-2-0 WCHA) with tonight's loss.

The two teams finish 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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