Big Rapids, Mich. --- Third-ranked Minnesota State got two goals apiece from
Marc Michaelis and
Julian Napravnik in skating past Ferris State 5-0 in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game played in Big Rapids, Mich., Friday.
Key efforts from netminder
Dryden McKay and Maverick special teams also played a role in the win as Minnesota State won for the 14th time in the last 16 games.
The Mavericks, who entered the game having scored first in 19 of 22 contests this year, continued that trend with a goal that came on a shot along the ice near the crease from senior captain
Marc Michaelis at the 7:40 mark for the only goal of the opening stanza.
Then, speaking of first goals, sophomore defenseman
Wyatt Aamodt jumped up from the blue line and took a pass from
Charlie Gerard before firing a shot along the ice into the net at 7:59 of the second period to make it a 2-0 lead. The goal is the first of the year for Aamodt. Michaelis got his second of the game less than a minute later to give the Mavericks a 3-0 lead. The goal, the 15th of the year for Michaelis, came while Minnesota State was shorthanded and gives him a school-record ten for his four-year college career.
Sophomore forward
Julian Napravnik scored twice in the third period to put the game out of reach with one at 6:55 and the other at 10:18. Napravnik now has six goals on the year.
Sophomore netminder
Dryden McKay, who stopped all 19 shots he faced, upped his record to 18-2-1 with tonight's win. The Downers Grove, Ill., native stands alone at the top of the school single-season shutouts list with seven with tonight's effort and he's moved into a tie for first on the Minnesota State career list with 11.
Junior center
Jared Spooner registered three assists in the game, marking the second time in his career he's had three helpers in a game (other time was March 2, 2018 in an 8-2 home win over the University of Alaska).
The Mavericks held the Bulldogs to a zero-for-five performance in power play chances in the game.
The Mavericks, now 19-3-1 overall and 13-2-0 WCHA and the Bulldogs (6-14-2, 4-9-2 WCHA) close out the two-game league series Saturday night.
Head coach Mike Hastings commented after the game.
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