Bemidji, Minn. ---  Minnesota State got three goals from sophomore forward Marc Michaelis as the tenth-rated Mavericks skated to a 5-2 win at Bemidji State in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game played Friday in Bemidji.
 
The three goals by Michaelis, last year's WCHA Rookie of the Year, mark his second career hat trick (the first occurrence was in a 7-3 home win over Alaska, Dec. 2, 2016). All three of his goals tonight came three different ways with the first coming via the power play, the second while the Mavericks were shorthanded and the third was of the empty-net variety.
  
Sophomore defenseman Edwin Hookenson's bouncing shot from the point beat Michael Bitzer at 8:34 of the opening period as the Mavericks took a first-period lead. The goal is the first of Hookenson's career. The Beavers responded at 9:56 when Kyle Bauman tallied on a breakaway, snapping the puck past Connor LaCouvee with a shot high on the gloveside.
 
The Mavericks took a 4-1 lead with three unanswered goals in the second period.  Michaelis one-timed a pass from Ian Scheid for a power play goal at 1:13.  Michaelis made it a 3-1 Maverick lead at 11:27 on a shorthanded goal where he backhanded a shot top shelf. The goal is the third career shorthanded goal of his career. Then, at 13:56, Nick Rivera got his third goal of the year on a rebound chance and the Mavericks headed into the locker room owning a 4-1 leads after two periods of play.
 
Bemidji State cut into the lead at 3:55 of the third period on a Gerry Fitzgerald marker, But Michaelis closed out the game with an empty net tally at 18:53.
 
Michaelis now has five goals on the season.
 
Minnesota State was one-for-six power play chances, while BSU scoreless in three opportunities with the man advantage. The Beavers outshot the Mavericks by a 32-21 margin in the contest.
 
With the victory Minnesota State goes to 7-3-0 overall and 5-2-0 WCHA. Bemidji State owns a 4-3-2 overall ledger and is 2-2-1-1 in WCHA contests.
 
The two teams complete the WCHA series Saturday night with a 7:07 p.m. face-off scheduled for Sanford Center.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.

 
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