Mankato, Minn. --- Top-rated Minnesota State got goals from five different players in rolling to a 5-2 win over Alaska Anchorage in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest played in Mankato Friday evening.
The win gives the Mavericks their 17
th victory in the last 20 games.
Junior forward
Bryce Gervais tallied his 19
th goal of the season at 3:03 of the opening period on a play where the Battleford, Sask., native came around from the side before tucking the puck into the net past UAA goaltender
Olivier Mantha. The Seawolves responded shortly thereafter on a shot from
Anthony Conti that leaked through the pads of Minnesota State junior
Stephon Williams with UAA on the power play at 7:31. The Mavericks got a power play of their own at 18:04 after sophomore forward
Michael Huntebrinker collected a rebound off the back wall before sniping it past Mantha for his second goal of the year.
Sophomore defenseman
Casey Nelson's one-timer from the top of the right circle made it a 3-1 Minnesota State lead at 1:14 of the second. The goal is Nelson's sixth of the season.
Junior forward
Brett Knowles got his fifth goal of the season at 3:42 of the third on a deflection of a shot from the blueline from junior defenseman
Jon Jutzi. Jutzi, who was +3 in the game and had two shots on goal, finished with two assists. UAA cut into the lead at 13:44 on a backhander by
Austin Azurdia that beat Williams over the right shoulder with the Seawolves on the power play. But senior center
Matt Leitner bounced one in for his seventh goal of the season with the Mavericks on the power play at 16:46 to again make it a three-goal lead for the final scoring in the game.
Minnesota State, which converted on two-of-four chances on the power play, outshot UAA by a 29-20 margin in the game as junior netminder
Stephon Williams upped his record on the season to 18-3-1.
The Mavericks are now 22-5-1 on the season (18-2-1 WCHA) with tonight's win. Alaska Anchorage stands 7-14-4 (4-13-2 WCHA).
Minnesota State and UAA 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 win.
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