Minneapolis, Minn. --- #2 Minnesota State used a suffocating defensive-effort and an early offensive burst in skating past Bemidji State, 2-0, in the third-place game of the Mariucci Classic Sunday.

For the 17th time in 20 games, the Mavericks got on the board first, this afternoon when senior captain Marc Michaelis netted a tap in at the right side of the net 3:10 into the opening period. Freshman Lucas Sowder notched the primary assist with a thread-like cross crease pass, while senior winger Parker Tuomie also assisted on the goal that marked Michaelis's 11th tally of the season.

Reggie Lutz, a native of Elk River, Minn., put the Mavericks up two at 18:21 of the first period, with his his seventh goal of the season coming off his own rebound in front of the net where he slid the puck past Beavers goaltender, Henry Johnson, with a shot along on the ice. Notching his first-collegiate point in the process was freshman defenseman Colby Bukes.

It was a quiet middle period between the two in-state conference rivals Sunday afternoon, with a scoreless frame that saw shots at 24-12 in favor of the Mavericks as the period came to a close.

The third period saw the Beavers outshoot the Mavericks 6-0, but to know avail as the Mavericks closed out the 2-0 whitewashing of their longtime in-state rival.

Maverick sophomore netminder Dryden McKay, who made 18 saves in the game, upped his record to 15-2-1 on the season.

The shutout marks the ninth of McKay's career and fifth of the season. McKay is now one clean sheet shy of tying the Minnesota State single-season shutout record of six established by Cole Huggins in 2013-14.

The Mavericks, now 16-3-1 overall, outshot the Beavers 24-18 in the contest and finished the game zero-for-three on the powerplay.

Winners of 11 of its last 13 games, Minnesota State kicks off the New Year with a home league series versus the University of Alaska Jan. 3-4 at the Mankato Civic Center.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.


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