Big Rapids, Mich. --- 16th-rated Minnesota State rallied from two goals down in gaining a 3-2 win over host Ferris State in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game played Saturday in Big Rapids, Mich.

Ferris State forward Jared Vanwormer tallied a rebound goal at 5:45 of the opening period in giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Then at 12:12, the puck bounced off the end boards in the Minnesota State defensive zone before caroming off a leg in front of the Maverick crease and going into the goal. The Bulldogs held a 2-0 edge at that point.

Things began to change when junior forward Brad McClure found Max Coatta streaking in on the far side and the sophomore winger made no mistake, ripping a shot from the right circle past Darren Smith for his third goal of the year at 14:48 and the Mavericks faced a 2-1 deficit at the end of 40 minutes.
 
Junior forward Zeb Knutson tied it with a power play marker at 3:57 of the third period with his fifth of year. The Mavericks took their first lead of the weekend at 13:02 on a scramble in front of the Bulldog net that senior forward C.J. Franklin finished off for his sixth goal of the year.  The goal, which came on the power play, turned out to be the third game-winning goal of the season for Franklin and the seventh of his three-year Minnesota State career. Franklin also assisted on Knutson's goal for a two-point night.
 
The win marked the first time this year Minnesota State has come from behind while trailing after two periods of play.

The Mavericks outshot the Bulldogs by a 38-19 margin in the game.  Cole Huggins stopped 17 shots in the contest for the Mavericks in bringing his record for the year to 7-3-0. Huggins stands 45-24-3 for his Minnesota State career with his 45 wins ranking sixth on the Mavericks' all-time list.

Minnesota State (10-6-2, 7-5-2 WCHA) was two-for-nine on its power play chances on the evening, while Ferris State (6-11-1, 5-7-1 WCHA) converted on one-of-six chances with the man advantage.

The Mavericks close out their pre-Holiday schedule with a pair of nonconference contests at Princeton next Friday and Saturday.



Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the win.


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