Huntsville, Ala. ---  Fifth-rated Minnesota State jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead and never looked back in downing Alabama Huntsville 6-1 in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest played in Huntsville Saturday.
 
The win completed the two-game WCHA road sweep by the Mavericks over the host Chargers.
 
For the 20^th time this year the Mavericks scored the game's first goal, this time when sophomore forward Nick Rivera jumped on a rebound off of a shot from Brad McClure that first bounced off the boards behind the net before Rivera tapped it in shortside for his seventh goal of the season at 3:57 of the opening 20 minutes of action. Minnesota State, which entered the weekend with the most power play goals in the country but was held scoreless in six power play chances in Friday's game, converted with the man advantage at 16:21 on a deflection by Dallas Gerads off of Ian Scheid's shot from the point and the Mavericks took a 2-0 lead into the locker room at the end of the first period.  The goal is third in the last four games for Gerads.
 
Defenseman Richard Buri took advantage of a Maverick defensive zone turnover to put the Chargers on the board at 1:01 of the second period with a shorthanded goal.  Minnesota State responded a short time later on a backhand rebound tally from C.J. Suess with his 16^th of the season coming just as a power play expired at 2:45. Sophomore forward Marc Michaelis snapped in his 12^th goal of the year at 10:12 and at the end of two periods of action, Minnesota State held a 4-1 lead.
 
A pair of third-period goals, one by Daniel Brickley at 1:29 and another by Jared Spooner at 9:28, locked up the win for the Mavericks.
 
Minnesota State finished the game converting on three of seven power play chances. The Mavericks had 36 shots on goal, while the Chargers totaled 24 shots. Conner LaCouvee who made his seventh consecutive start in the game, finished with 23 saves and stands 17-3-0 with tonight's win. Michaelis finished with a three-point night on a goal and two assists.
 
Minnesota State, which now stands 23-7-0 overall and is 19-5-0 WCHA with tonight's victory, has won its last seven games and has 14 wins in its last 16 games. 
 
The continue WCHA action next weekend with a home series vs. Ferris State slated for Friday and Saturday at Verizon Center in downtown Mankato.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.