Mankato, Minn.  ---  #4 Minnesota State got goals from three different players in skating past Bemidji State, 3-1, in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action Saturday night at Verizon Center in downtown Mankato.

The win, which closes out the 2018-19 regular season for the Mavericks, gives the Mavericks a 27-7-2 overall mark and league-best record of 22-5-1.

The Mavericks scored first when junior center Marc Michaelis, taking advantage of a fortuitous bounce that saw the puck rebound off of a an official's skate, found Charlie Gerard in the slot and the junior buried it for his tenth goal of the year at 4:22 of the opening frame in staking the Mavericks to a 1-0 lead.

A pair of second-period markers extended the lead to 3-0. Junior captain Nick Rivera tallied his fourth career shorthanded goal at 3:44 and when sophomore forward Walker Duehr wired a shot past Zach Driscoll at 5:46, Bemidji State replaced netminder Zach Driscoll with Henry Johnson.

Bemidji State pulled within two at 7:45 of the third period when Aaron Miller's shot from the right circle deflected off a body past Mathias Israelsson to close out scoring in the game.

Israelsson, who started for the first time since Dec. 15, was credited with 22 saves and now stands 8-1-0 for the season.  The Mavericks trailed the Beavers in terms of shots on goal in the contest 23-19.

Sophomore defenseman Connor Mackey finished the game with two assists, had a blocked shot and a +2 rating
.
The Mavericks, who have claimed their fourth WCHA regular-season title in the past five years, host Alabama-Huntsville in the first round of the WCHA play-offs, beginning the best-of-three series Friday in Mankato.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.
 


- 30 -