Mankato, Minn. --- An overtime goal from senior defenseman Jack McNeely lifted #1 Minnesota State to a 2-1 victory over Bemidji State in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association championship game Saturday.
The Mavericks, who have won 15 games in a row and 24 of their last 25, receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's hockey tournament with tonight's win.
It wasn't easy for Minnesota State, with the Beavers getting out to an early lead.
The visiting Beavers, who entered tonight having won their last three games, struck first when Alex Adams, after getting stopped by Dryden McKay on a breakaway chance, converted on a screen shot at 9:17 of the second period. The Mavericks responded at 16:16 when junior center Brendan Furry ripped a shot from the left circle that beat Mattias Sholl high on the short side for a power play goal. Both teams put eight shots on goal in the second period and after 40 minutes of action the game was tied at 1-1.
The Mavericks outshot the Beavers by a 14-5 margin in the third period, but the score remained knotted at 1-1.
Sophomore forward Josh Groll scored what was believed to be the game-winning goal at 3:02 of the extra session, but after a lengthy review was disallowed. Then, following an intermission and ice resurfacing, McNeely took a drop pass from Nathan Smith, took a stride and wristed a shot that beat Sholl over his glove hand to end the game.
Senior netminder Dryden McKay finished with 21 saves and stands 35-4-0 on the season with the win. His 35 victories establish a NCAA Division I men's hockey single-season for wins. The previous record-holders were Marty Turco, who had 34 wins for Michigan in 1995-96 and Robb Stauber, who had 34 wins for Minnesota in 1987-88.
The victory ups the Mavericks' record to 35-5-0 for the season. Minnesota State's 15-game winning streak ties the school record for consecutive wins.
The NCAA Division I men's hockey postseason selection show is slated for tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. CST and airs on ESPNU.
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