Bowling Green, Ohio  ---   #3 Minnesota State found itself in a hole early that it could not dig out of, eventually falling by a 4-1 margin to #12 Bowling Green in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game played in Bowling Green, Ohio Saturday.

With Bowling Green outscoring the Mavericks 2-0 through the first 20 minutes of action, Minnesota State found itself trailing after the first period of play for only the third time this season.

At 16:27 of the opening period, BGSU defenseman Tim Theocharidis ripped a shot from the left point that found its way to the back of the net to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.  Then, a short time later, Lukas Craggs motored down the left side of the rink before going hard to the net and backhanded the puck past Mathias Israelsson on the far side at 17:57.

Craggs got his second of the night when he carried the puck into the zone before wiring a shot over Israelsson's right shoulder at 3:36 of the second period.   Minnesota State sophomore defenseman Connor Mackey's blast from the point beat Ryan Bednard high on the glove side for a power play marker at 18:03, but BGSU got a goal shortly thereafter from Taylor Schneider at 18:46 and after two periods of play, BGSU held a 4-1 advantage.

The Mavericks were outshot 10-4 in the third period, but neither team was able to push the puck past the goal line and the game ended with the Falcons claiming the 4-1 win.

Minnesota State's goaltenders, Mathias Israelsson and Dryden McKay combined to make 23 saves in the game. 

With tonight's loss Minnesota State owns a 14-4-0 (9-3-0 WCHA) record on the season.

Next action for Minnesota State is the Desert Hockey Classic hosted by Arizona State in Glendale, Ariz., Dec. 28-29.  The Mavericks are slated to play Minnesota Duluth Dec. 28 and then either the winner/loser between Arizona State and Clarkson Dec. 29.

Associate head coach Todd Knott commented following the game.




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