Box Score ST. CLOUD, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's hockey team scored the most goals they have in the last five games at two, but that was not enough as the Mavericks were defeated by the St. Cloud State Huskies 4-2, Saturday afternoon.

The first period set the tone of the match as St. Cloud State found the back of the net just 51 seconds into the game.  Molly Illikainen netted her second goal of the series on a play that was set up by Julia Tylke.  Just under two minutes later at 3:38, Illikainen struck again for her seventh goal of the season.  The Huskies eventually took a 3-0 lead at 16:46 of the period with Tylke putting the puck in the back of the net with Payge Pena and Illikainen setting her up.  Minnesota State answered 40 seconds later at 17:26 as senior Katie Johnson (Anoka, Minn.) fired a shot past Huskie goaltender Katie Fitzgerald.  Johnson's second goal of the season was set up by sophomore Anna Keys (Cottage Grove, Minn.) and freshman Jordan McLaughlin (Grand Rapids, Minn.). The shots were dead even by the end of the period at 13 apiece.  Fitzgerald tallied 12 saves for the Huskies while Maverick goaltender, junior Brianna Quade (Newcastle, Ont.) generated 10 stops.

The second period played to a more balanced game as both teams were able to beat their opposing goaltender once each.  With 51 seconds into the second frame, SCSU skated to a 4-1 lead with Lauren Hespenheide beating Quade for her third marker of the season.  Then, just under two minutes later at 3:43, Minnesota State countered with a goal of its own.  Sophomore Hannah Davidson (Kincardine, Ont.) nailed home her third goal of the season with Johnson and freshman Lena Duesterhoeft (Munich, Germany) picking up assists on the play.  The second period finished out with SCSU generating 12 shots compared to Minnesota State's eight.

Neither team was able to bury in the final period of action.  St. Cloud State out shot the Mavericks by a clip of 33-29 with Quade tallying 29 saves.  Fitzgerald recorded 27 saves for the Huskies.  Both Minnesota State and St. Cloud State were unable to capitalize on their power-play opportunities with SCSU going 0-3 and the Mavericks finishing the game 0-4.

Minnesota State, now 2-11-1 (0--10-0 WCHA) on the season, will travel to Bemidji, Minn., next weekend as they take on the fifth-rated Beavers of Bemidji State. Both games are scheduled for a 2:07 start at Sanford Center.