Mankato, Minn.  --- --- #18th-rated Minnesota State scored three unanswered goals in the third period to grab a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over visiting Bowling Green in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest played in Mankato Saturday night.

For the 15^th time this year Minnesota State got the game's first goal, this time when sophomore defenseman Daniel Brickley received a pass from Ian Scheid off an offensive zone face-off win by C.J. Franklin, then snapped a shot top shelf over netminder Ryan Bednard's right shoulder at the 2:16 mark for a power play goal. The goal is Brinkley's fifth of the year. Sean Walker countered for the Falcons after ripping a shot from forty feet out over goaltender Aaron Nelson's left shoulder at the 4:46 mark to tie the game at 1-1. BGSU forward Matt Pohlkamp made it a 2-1 Falcons' lead, pouncing on a loose puck in front of the net at the 15:03 mark and BGSU headed into the locker room after 20 minutes of play maintaining a 2-1 lead.

After a checking from behind penalty on Max Coatta was enforced at the start of the second period, Walker extended the Falcon lead to 3-1 on a power play goal (his second goal of the contest) that deflected in net off a Maverick defenseman from a shot from the point. The Mavericks cut the lead in half late in the period after junior forward C.J. Franklin hammered home a rebound at 14:29 of the period to bring the Mavericks within one goal going into the final frame.

After forward Zach Stepan dumped the puck into the offensive zone, Zeb Knutson snuck a sharp angled shot under the left pad of Bednard at 7:56 of the third period to tie the game 3-3. Just over a minute later Franklin came off the far wall and went five-hole and scored his second goal of the contest, giving the Mavericks a 4-3 advantage. Freshman winger Marc Michaelis solidified the win with an empty net goal to seal the win with 37 seconds left in the game.

Franklin finished with a three-point night on two goals and an assist.

Minnesota State, which was two-for-three on the power play, put 27 shots on goal in the contest. The Falcons went one-for-two with the man advantage.

Maverick netminder Aaron Nelson, who started for the fourth game in a row, made 22 stops and now stands 3-1-0 on the year.

The Mavericks, who fell to the Falcons Friday night in splitting the home league series, are 14-8-2 on the season with tonight's win. Bowling Green now stands at 12-13-2 with tonight's result.

The Mavericks continue WCHA action next weekend with a road series at Michigan Tech scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Houghton.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.


 
 
 
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