Men's Hockey | 11/5/2016 8:53:00 PM

Box Score        Mankato, Minn.  --- Tenth-rated Minnesota State used a pair of special team goals in earning a hard-fought 2-1 win at Lake Superior State in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game played Saturday in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

Junior forward Brad McClure rifled a wrist shot past Gordon Defiel high on the glove side with the Mavericks on the power play at 19:11 of the opening period and the Mavericks owned a 1-0 led after the first period of action. The goal is McClure's fifth of the year.

Minnesota State took a 2-0 lead the 8:41 mark of the second period on a shorthanded goal by senior Jordan Nelson in which the veteran center beat Defiel with a shot along the ice. The goal is the third of the year for Nelson and turned out to be the second game-winning goal of his career.  The Lakers got one back when J.T. Henke tucked one in on Jordan Pawloski's stickside for a power play goal at 10:46.
That was close as it got in the game with neither team able to score in the third period.

Jason Pawloski stopped 19 shots in the contest in evening his record for the season to 1-1-0. Minnesota State (7-3-0, 5-2-0-0 WCHA) was one-for-four on its power play chances on the evening, while Lake Superior State (6-1-0, 1-4-1-0 WCHA) was one-of-six with the man advantage.

The Mavericks return home for a two-game league encounter with long-time rival Bemidji State next Friday and Saturday in Mankato.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the win.