Mankato, Minn. ---   Trailing #16 North Dakota 1-0 after the first period of play, #2/3 Minnesota State scored once in the second period before getting the game-winner in the third to gain a 2-1 victory in the nonconference series finale Saturday in Mankato.

The 5,038 fans in attendance at Mankato Civic Center saw the Mavericks improve to 3-0-1 on the season with sophomore netminder Dryden McKay backstopping Minnesota State with 34 saves.
 
The visiting Fighting Hawks scored the lone goal in the first period at the 10:59 mark after freshman forward Shane Pinto gathered a rebound resting next to McKay's stick laying on the ice and went top shelf for the score.

It was the Mavericks turn 26 seconds into the second period as teams were playing four-on-four hockey because of a double penalty. Freshman winger Lucas Sowder took a shot that was saved by sophomore netminder Adam Scheel, grabbed his own rebound and fed senior captain Marc Michaelis on the backside for his fourth goal of the season. The game remained tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of action.

Minnesota State took its first lead of the game 5:21 into the third period on a goal in which senior blueliner Edwin Hookenson received a pass from Michaelis near the blue line and went five-hole on Scheel for his second goal of the season and the first game-winning goal of his career.

Sophomore Dryden McKay (3-0-1) was named the game's Frist Star after stopping 34 of 35 shots in the win. The Mavericks were outshot by the Fighting Hawks by 35-22 margin in the contest with Minnesota State not scoring on its only power play opportunity and UND going zero-for-three with the man advantage.

Michaelis finished the night with a goal and an assist after being shut out last night by the Fighting Hawks, Junior blueliner Connor Mackey also recorded an assist.  Sowder's assist on the goal by Michaelis gives him seven points on two goals and five assists in four games.