Mankato,  Minn.  ---   #20 Minnesota State got at least one point from 14 different players and a perfect outing from netminder Cole Huggins in rolling to an 8-0 win over Lake Superior State in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action Friday at Verizon Wireless Center in downtown Mankato.

At the end of the first period of play, Minnesota State owned a lead 2-0 on goals that both came as a result of long shots from the point. At 13:03, junior forward Brett Knowles got his stick on a shot from junior defenseman Casey Nelsen in tipping the puck past Laker netminder Gordon Defiel for his fourth goal of the season.  Freshman defenseman Daniel Brickley's wrister from the blue line made it through a maze of legs and sticks and found the back of the net at 18:34. The goal is the first of the career for the Sandy, Utah product.

Sophomore forward C.J. Franklin's wicked wristshot beat Defiel high on the glove side at 2:49 of the second to increase Minnesota State's lead to 3-0. The goal is the seventh of the year for Franklin. It became a 4-0 Minnesota State lead at 17:01 after freshman forward Max Coatta batted the puck in from ten feet in front of the net. Senior forward Teddy Blueger one-timed a pass from Casey Nelson past Defiel at the 18:57 mark for his sixth goal of the season as the Mavericks entered the locker room owning a 5-0 lead at the end of two periods of action.

Sophomore forward Zeb Knutson tallied his fifth goal of the season with the Mavericks on the power play at 9:46 of the final period. Michael Huntebrinker, with his fifth of the year, and Max Coatta with his second of the game, closed out the scoring for Minnesota State in making it 8-0.

Casey Nelson finished the game with three assists and C.J. Franklin, with a goal and two helpers, also enjoyed a three-point outing.  With the win the Mavericks now stand 9-0-0 in the all-time series with Lake Superior State.

Junior netminder Cole Huggins, who started for the first time since Nov. 13, stopped 17 shots in the game for his eighth career shut-out.  He now stands 4-6-0 for the season.

Minnesota State, which stands 12-8-5 overall and is 11-3-5 in WCHA games, closes out the two-game WCHA series with Lake Superior State Saturday night with a 7:07 p.m. face-off scheduled.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the win.