Mankato, Minn.  --- 18th-rated Minnesota State fell to Bowling Green 3-2 in overtime in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest played in Mankato Friday night.

The Mavericks held 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the game, but could not hold off the Falcons.

Minnesota State got the scoring started when freshman defenseman Ian Scheid intercepted a pass at the blue line, walked in and wristed his sixth goal of the season over the left shoulder of Bowling Green netminder Chris Nell at 14:25 of the first period.

The Mavericks held a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period, before BGSU forward Kevin Dufour snapped a shot past Minnesota State Aaron Nelson at 7:57 of the second to tie the game 1-1. The Mavericks jumped back out in front late in the period when senior forward Zach Stepan pushed a rebound into the net at 17:04. The goal is Stepan's third tally in the last two games That lead was short lived however when Dufour beat Nelson at 18:07 to once again tie the game and sent the two teams into the locker rooms knotted at 2-2 after forty minutes of action.

After a scoreless third period and following a turnover at Minnesota State's blue line, Mitch Mclain took a cross-ice pass from Lukas Craggs and netted the game-winning goal for Bowling Green at 3:55 of the overtime period to give the Falcons the 3-2 victory over the Mavericks.

Minnesota State, which was zero-for-four on the power play, put 34 shots on goal in the contest. The Falcons went zero-for-three with the man advantage.

Maverick netminder Aaron Nelson, who made 23 stops, now stands 2-1-0 on the year.

The Mavericks, who entered the game riding a three-game winning streak, are 13-8-2 on the season with tonight's loss. Bowling Green now stands at 12-12-2 with tonight's result and with 32 points in league play, hold a three-point lead over the Mavericks for third place in the WCHA standings.

The two teams complete the two-game series when they square-off at Verizon Center in downtown Mankato with a 7:07 p.m. face-off scheduled for Saturday night.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.

 

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