Mankato, Minn.  ---  #2 Minnesota State got goals from four different players in opening Western Collegiate Hockey Association action with a 5-1 win at Alabama Huntsville Friday.

Powered by two goals from senior forward Charlie Gerard, the visiting Mavericks took an early lead and never looked back in extending their unbeaten streak to five games on the year.

Gerard, who was goalless through Minnesota State's first four games of the year, scored the game's first goal, taking a pass from freshman linemate Nathan Smith before depositing the puck into the net past UAH netminder Mark Sinclair at 8:32 of the opening period. Gerard made it a 2-0 Maverick lead at 10:56, beating Sinclair by tucking a shot along the ice on the right side into the net. UAH was able to cut the lead to one when Jack Jeffers scored on Dryden McKay at 12:20 and after 20 minutes of action, the score stood 2-1 in favor of Minnesota State.

Junior forward Walker Duehr got his first goal of the year with some nifty stickwork in front of the net at 9:44 of the middle stanza and after two periods of play, the Mavericks owned a 3-1 lead.
The Mavericks got third-period goals from Chris Van Os-Shaw at :34 and Parker Tuomie at 8:49 to close out the scoring in the game. Both goals were the first of the year for the two forwards.

Gerard, who also assisted on Tuomie's goal, finished with three points, while Nathan Smith had two assists.

Sophomore netminder Dryden McKay stopped 14 of 15 shots in upping his record to 4-0-1 for the year, while Sinclair finished with 45 saves in the UAH net.

The Mavericks (4-0-1, 1-0-0 WCHA) and the Chargers (0-5-0, 0-1-0 WCHA) close out the two-game series Saturday with a 7:07 p.m. face-off scheduled.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the win.


 
Senior forward Charlie Gerard commented following the game.




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