Mankato, Minn. ---   Minnesota State scored the first two goals of the game and then held on in skating to a 2-1 win over Michigan Tech in the first game of a best-of-three Western Collegiate Hockey Association semi-final play-off series Friday in Mankato.

The third-rated Mavericks took the game's first lead at the 18:26 mark of the opening period on a goal by freshman center Jared Spooner. Spooner beat Devin Kero with a shot from the left dot at the 18:26 mark and the Mavericks, who outshot the Huskies by a 10-6 margin through the first 20 minutes, entered the locker room owning a 1-0 lead.

Freshman center Jake Jaremko deflected Parker Tuomie's shot past Kero for a power play goal at 1:22 of the second period in widening the Minnesota State lead to 2-0.  The goal is the 14^th of the year for Jaremko.

The Mavericks, which entered the game owning a 24-0-0 record when owning a lead after two periods of play this year, saw their lead cut to one goal when Tech scored at 9:19 of the third period when Joel L'Esperance found the puck in the slot and beat Maverick netminder Connor LaCouvee five hole with a wrist shot. His goal would close out the scoring in the game as Minnesota State held on for the 2-1 win.

Connor LaCouvee, who made his 14th consecutive start in goal, stopped 18 shots in the victory and now stands 23-3-1 with tonight's triumph. 

The Mavericks are now 29-7-1 overall and undefeated in their last 14 games.  The 29 wins and 14-game unbeaten streak both currently rank as best in the nation.

The Mavericks and the Huskies face-off again in game two scheduled for a 7:07 p.m. start Saturday at Verizon Center in downtown Mankato.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.

 
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