Houghton, Mich. ---  Michigan Tech downed Minnesota State, 4-1, to win the Western Collegiate Hockey Association best-of-three semifinal playoff series, 2-1, in game three at John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton, Mich., Sunday night.

Tonight's game, the third in three nights between the two schools, stood tied at 1-1 after one period of play, but the Huskies got a pair of second-period power play markers to take control of the game.


Michigan Tech started the scoring in the opening frame after Gavin Gould beat Jason Pawloski with a shot from the slot at 7:10. Minnesota State wasted little time getting the equalizer as freshman defenseman Ian Scheid's dump in from the red line drifted over the right shoulder of Angus Redmond for his eighth goal of the season with the Mavericks on the power play at 7:59.  Pawloski and defenseman Daniel Brickley were credited with the assists. Left wing Nick Rivera threatened to add the Mavericks second goal during a two-on-one but was denied by Redmond with under four minutes to play in the period.


In the second stanza, Gould gave the Huskies the lead with his second goal of the game when he gathered in a loose puck at the side of the crease before putting it past Pawloski on the glove side  at 9:28 on the power play.  Michigan Tech then stretched its lead to 3-1 after Gould converted on a rebound at the 10:53 mark for this third goal of the game and after 40 minutes of action, the Huskies held a 3-1 lead.

The Mavericks continued to apply pressure late in the third with Pawloski on the bench for an extra attacker and with a shot from the point by Brickley found the back of the net at 16:55, but was disallowed after being reviewed due to a player in the crease. Michigan Tech then went on to put the game out of reach with an empty net goal at 18:28 to close out the scoring.


Michigan Tech held the slight edge in shots on goal, 22-21, and faceoffs, 33-31. The Mavericks finished the game one-for-three on the power-play while the Huskies went two-for-four.


Powloski, who started for the sixth straight time, made 18 saves in the game and finishes the year with an 8-5-2 record.


The Mavericks conclude the season with a 22-13-4 overall record.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.



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