MANKATO, Minn. -- Minnesota State dropped the final game of two in a weekend series with #1-rated Wisconsin 6-2 during a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game played at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, Saturday afternoon.

The Mavericks now stand 5-5 overall, including a 1-5 mark in WCHA action, while the Badgers advance to 12-0 overall with an 8-0 record in WCHA contests this season.

Maverick freshman forward Alexis Paddington opened the scoring with her first collegiate goal at 4:15 of the first period. Charging the Badgers' net in a 2-on-1 rush, Paddington ripped a shot into the left corner past UW's netminder Kennedy Blair to give MSU an early 1-0 lead. At 17:17, the Badgers tied the game, 1-1, on a goal scored by Katie Kotlowski. The Mavericks and Badgers were all squared up at one a side heading into the first intermission. Shots stood in favor of UW 8-5 after the first 20 minutes of play.

In the second period, the Badgers scored goals off the stick's of Casey O'Brien, at 1:27, and Maddie Posick, at 12:09, to carry a two-goal lead, 3-1, into the second intermission.

The Badgers piled on three more consecutive goals in the third period for a total five unanswered tallies to take a commanding 6-1 lead. MSU's sophomore forward Sydney Langseth got the Mavericks back in the score column with 1:05 remaining, but the Badgers held on to win 6-2 and completed the weekend sweep of the Mavericks. 

In net for the Mavericks, Frank, now 4-5 this season, stopped 28 of the 34 shots she faced. On the other end, Blair improved her record to 11-0 on the season while making 17 saves on 19 shots.

The Badgers outshot the Mavericks 34-19. Each side had one goal on the power play. UW was perfect on their only chance with the man advantage while MSU concluded the game one-for-three on the power play.

Minnesota State's next action comes next weekend when the Mavericks travel to St. Cloud State for a Friday/Saturday series at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.

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