Big Rapids, Mich. ---  Third-ranked Minnesota State had to come from behind twice before defeating Ferris State 5-4 in overtime a Western Collegiate Hockey Association road win at Ferris State Friday night.

The Mavericks found themselves trailing after the first period of action for the first time this year in tonight's game. Sophomore forward Ryan Sandelin, camped just inside the right circle, took a pass from Ondrej Pavel and wired a shot past Roni Salmenkangas at 2:28 to give the Mavericks an early lead.  The goal, which was also assisted by Chris Van Os-Shaw, is the fifth of the year for Sandelin. The Bulldogs got a power play goal from Cole Norris at 14:25 to tie the game and when Liam McDougall tallied 22 seconds later, it became a 2-1 Ferris State lead and that's where things stood at the end of the first 20 minutes of action.

The teams traded leads a couple of times in the second period with a total of five goals being scored.  Senior center Jake Jaremko tallied a power play goal at 2:23 to knot the score at 2-2 and when sophomore Brennan Furry, coming in on the off wing and fighting off a defender, beat Salmenkangas at 5:49, the Mavericks had their first lead. Ferris State tied the game at 13:03 on a rebound goal from Marshall Moise and then Ethan Stewart scored on a breakaway at 16:43 to make it a 4-3 Bulldog lead. Minnesota State sophomore Nathan Smith curled out from the left corner and beat a defender before going bar down on the glove side with a shot from the right side of the slot at 19:23 and the score stood 4-4 at the end of two periods of play.

The Mavericks owned an eight to one advantage in shots on goal in the third period, but with neither team able to score, the game headed to overtime.

Senior forward Reggie Lutz's low shot to the stick side at 4:12 of the three-on-three extra session ended it with Lutz's eighth goal of the season lifting the Mavericks to the 5-4 win. The goal is the ninth game-winning goal of Lutz's career.

The Mavericks, who entered the game leading the country in power play percentage with a 32.3% mark, converted on one-of-seven chances with the man advantage in the game. Minnesota State owned a 41-11 advantage in the contest and senior Ryan Edquist, who replaced Dryden McKay at the beginning of the third period in the Minnesota State net, got his first win as Maverick.

Freshman defenseman Jake Livingstone finished the game with two assists.

Winners for the fifth straight time, Minnesota State closes out the two-game WCHA series with the Bulldogs Saturday night with a 6:07 p.m. EST face-off scheduled.

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