Sioux Falls, S.D. --- Sixth-rated Minnesota State scored the first two goals of the game, but could not fend off a surging Minnesota Duluth team, eventually falling to the Bulldogs 3-2 in overtime at the 2018 NCAA West Regional in Sioux Falls, S.D., Friday.

The Mavericks struck twice before the game was seven minutes old in taking a 2-0 first-period lead.  Veteran winger Zeb Knutson looked off a defenseman before rifling s shot that beat Hunter Shepard stickside at 2:21. The goal is the 15th of the year for Knutson. Then, with Minnesota State on a power play, sophomore defenseman Ian Scheid took a shot from the blue line that found the back of the net as freshman forward Dallas Gerads provided a screen in front of the UMD netminder.  The goal is the ninth of the year for Scheid.

UMD got back into it in the middle stanza, outshooting Minnesota State by an 8-0 margin and converting on two of its chances to knot things up after 40 minutes of action.  Karson Kuhlman's backhander beat Maverick netminder Connor LaCouvee at 6:38 and at 15:52 Nick Swaney one-timed a shot from the right dot that beat LaCouvee high on the stickside.

After a scoreless third period, the Bulldogs appeared to score the game-winning goal at the 55-second mark, but the goal was disallowed due to goaltender interference.  But at the 2:28 mark, UMD closed out the win on an even-strength marker by Parker Mackay.

UMD was one-for-three in power play chances in the contest, while the Mavericks went one-for-four.  The Bulldogs outshot Minnesota State 22-21 and LaCouvee, who made his 16th consecutive start tonight, finished with 19 stops in the contest.

"Tonight didn't go the way that you wanted it to," said head coach Mike Hastings. "I though we had a good start. Obviously, our second period wasn't a great period for us.  I thought we reset, had a decent third period, had a look in overtime, and they found a way to finish."

UMD (22-16-3) faces Air Force tomorrow night for the right to advance to the Frozen Four.  Minnesota State, which made its fifth trip to the NCAA Division I tournament with this appearance in Sioux Falls, completes its 2017-18 season with an overall record of 29-10-1.

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