MANKATO, Minn. – Adam Eisele streaked up the right side and wrapped around the net for a Minnesota State game-winning overtime goal Friday night at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, capping the Mavericks season opener 3-2 and handing Head Coach Luke Strand his first collegiate victory behind the bench over No. 10 ranked St. Cloud State.

The Mavericks (1-0-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) fought through a two-goal deficit, tied the game 2-2 in the second period, and outshot the Huskies 27-23 in front of 4,398 fans. The two teams meet again Saturday at 6:07 p.m. in Mankato.
 
St. Cloud State struck first at the 7:04 mark of the first period. Verner Miettinen picked off a breakout centering pass inside the MSU blue line and fed Barrett Hall alone in the low slot for a forehand shot.
 
With 3:45 to play, Adam Eisele tipped Jakob Stender's left point shot, requiring a pad save from SCSU's Dominic Basse.
 
Later, the Mavericks killed off Stender's holding penalty nearing one minute to play and MSU concluded the period with a 7-6 advantage in shots on goal.
 
At 2:19 of the second period, Joe Molenaar made it 2-0 SCSU. The senior scored on a crisp back door pass from Josh Luedtke standing at the adjacent point.
 
The Mavericks answered less than two minutes later with their first goal of the 2023-24 season. Jordan Power passed it parallel to the blue line to Malinowski, who fired a wrister. Lucas Sowder tipped it down in front for his first tally of the season and career goal No. 19.
 
"It's exciting," Strand said. "We went through the exhibition without scoring. Everyone's a little bit holding their breathe and then when Sowder scored, a lot of things busted open. For the older guys, they've got a torch to carry and I think they showed it out there tonight."
 
Minnesota State nearly scored moments later on Brett Moravec's wrap-around. The puck was shoveled back into the net through traffic but it was deemed Basse was interfered with on the play, prompting a whistle.
 
Following Minnesota State's second power play, Moravec charged up the left side, dragged and lifted his first career goal to tie the game 2-2 at the 12:49 mark of the second period. Adam Eisele and Evan Murr (first career point) assisted from the neutral zone.
 
Later, Will Hillman received a charging penalty, which carried over into the third. Minnesota State continued to hold a narrow edge in shots 16-12 after 40 minutes.
 
Less than a minute into the third period, Moravec strode through the neutral zone for a partial breakaway but Basse turned away the low shot.
 
St. Cloud State threw a flurry of shots through the crease in the final 10 seconds of a power play four minutes later, but a stickless Alex Tracy kept it out, keeping the tie intact all the way to overtime.
 
"It was a little bit of a bend, don't break moment," Strand said. "I thought as the third came and emotions came in, we still fended off their push. Hats off to Trace (Tracy). He did an excellent job and then our defense got some exits and ate some pucks when we needed it down the stretch."
 
The Huskies controlled play in the first shift of three-on-three overtime, prompting Alex Tracy to successive saves.
 
Jordan Steinmetz' open ice hit separated Dylan Anhorn from the puck near center ice. Eisele picked it up and found speed up the right side, tucking it inside the far post before Basse could move across the crease.
 
"That play would have never happened if Steiny didn't step up and make that hit," Eisele said. "That's the reason why he wears that letter. He's going to put his body on the line every single time. I just tried to use my speed and he bit so I got lucky enough to put it in the net after that."
 
The win was significant for the Mavericks, who fell three times to St. Cloud State last season, including in the March NCAA Regional Tournament in Fargo, North Dakota.
 
The Mavericks outshot St. Cloud State 27-23 and blocked 23 more. Sam Morton helped the Mavericks with nine of 14 faceoff wins and Brian Carrabes led the squad with six shots on goal. Tracy (12 games last season) stopped 21 of 23 in net for MSU.
 
"It wasn't the prettiest start but to go down two-nothing and not give up and keep being resilient; it was nice that things worked out for us," commented Sowder. "It's a good start to the season, but we're already moving on and looking toward tomorrow."
 
Minnesota State (1-0-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) is back at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center for game two of the series with No. 10 St. Cloud State (1-2-0, 0-0-0 NCHC) Saturday.

Three Stars of the Game
1. Adam Eisele
2. Lucas Sowder
3. Brett Moravec