Mankato,  Minn.  ---- #18 Minnesota State saw its nine-game unbeaten streak come to an end as a result of its 3-1 loss to Northern Michigan in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action Friday in Mankato.

Northern Michigan's leading scorer Darren Nowick tallied his eighth goal of the season at 8:33 of the first period, but Minnesota State senior forward Brett Knowles stole the puck in the neutral zone with the Mavericks shorthanded and wired a shot from the high slot past Atte Tolvanen at 11:34 to even things up. The goal is Knowles' third for 2015-16 and is his first career shorthanded marker.

Dominik Shine ripped a shot from 30 feet out past Minnesota State netminder Jason Pawloski at 13:56 of the second period in giving Northern Michigan its second lead of the game.  An empty net tally from Nowick at the 19:10 mark of the third closed out the scoring in the game.

Minnesota State outshot the Wildcats by a 42-20 margin in the win and freshman netminder Jason Pawloski, who started his ninth consecutive game, stopped 18 shots in absorbing the loss. He now stands 7-1-4 in his first year of college hockey.

Minnesota State, which stands 10-7-4 overall and owns a 9-2-4 WCHA mark, and Northern Michigan (8-7-6, 6-5-4) play again Saturday with a 7:07 p.m. face-off scheduled.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.