Mankato, Minn. --- 12
th-rated Minnesota State scored a pair of late power play goals in pulling out a 5-3 win over #16 Michigan Tech in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game played Saturday in Mankato, Minn.
The Mavericks trailed twice in the game, but scored the last three goals in the contest in earning the home league sweep over the Huskies.
Jake Jackson, skating in on the off-wing, wristed a shot that beat Maverick netminder
Connor LaCouvee on the far side in giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead at the 0:55 mark of the opening period. The Mavericks responded at 7:08, scoring in transition with freshman forward
Reggie Lutz finishing off a nice passing play from
Clint Lewis and
Max Coatta. The goal for Lutz is his first career goal.
Senior forward
Zeb Knutson extended his point-scoring streak to six games when his goal at 2:44 of the second gave the Mavericks their first lead of the game.
C.J. Suess and freshman defenseman
Jack McNeely drew assists on Knutson's goal, with McNeely's assist serving as his first career point. Jackson got his second goal of the game with the power play marker at 14:19 evening the score at 2-2.
The Huskies took a 3-2 lead at 18:10 of the second on
Joel L'Esperance's goal, but
Connor Mackey's second goal of the year at 4:16 of the third knotted things up at 3-3. The Mavericks pulled away with a pair of late five-on-three power play markers in claiming the victory. Junior defenseman
Daniel Brickley wired a shot from the high slot past
Patrick Munson at 16:07 and senior center
C.J. Suess finished it off at 17:04 with his third goal of the season.
Connor LaCouvee kicked out 16 Tech shots and now stands 4-0-0 for the year, while Suess and Knutson both finished with three-point nights on a goal and two assists. Lutz had a goal an assist in the triumph.
The Mavericks, who are 5-2-0 overall and 3-1-0 WCHA, outshot the Huskies by a 38-19 margin in the contest. Minnesota State were two-of-seven in power play chances, while MTU finished with a one-for-six in opportunities with the man advantage.
Minnesota State continues WCHA action next weekend with a two-game road series at Northern Michigan Friday and Saturday in Marquette.
Head coach
Mike Hastings commented following the game.
