Mankato, Minn. ---  Sophomore center David Silye's three goals helped lift #2-rated Minnesota State to a 7-1 win over St. Thomas Saturday in Mankato.

The game was played outdoors at Minnesota State's Blakeslee Stadium as part of Hockey Day Minnesota festivities.

The win gives Minnesota State a 23-5-0 record on the season. The Mavericks rank first in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings with a 17-3-0 league mark.

Minnesota State outshot the visiting Tommies 11-0 in the opening period and jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Silye capitalized on rebound chances at 8:53 and 11:08.

St. Thomas pulled in within of the Mavericks when Tim Piechowski tallied early in the second period, but goals from Julian Napravnik at 10:42, Nathan Smith at 13:43 and Sam Morton at the 14-minute mark gave Minnesota State a 5-1 edge after two periods of play.

Junior winger Ryan Sandelin upped his team-leading goal total to 15 when he scored at the beginning of the third period and Silye finished off his hat trick when he cashed in on a power play chance at 8:39.
Silye's hat trick, the fifth by a Maverick this year, gives him five goals on the season.

Senior netminder Dryden McKay, who split the game with freshman Keenan Rancier, now stands 23-4-0 on the year.  With 98 career wins, McKay ranks fourth all-time in NCAA Division I men's hockey in victories, with only Marty Turco (Michigan 1995-98, 127 wins), Steve Shields (Michigan, 1991-94, 111 wins) and Scott Clemmensen (Boston College, 1998-01, 99 wins) standing in front of the Downers Grove, Ill., native.

Next action for Minnesota State is next weekend when the Mavericks host Arizona State in a pair of nonconference games Friday and Saturday.

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