MANKATO, Minn. – Sam Morton scored twice and Minnesota State men's hockey swept No. 10 ranked St. Cloud State with a 5-1 victory on home ice Saturday night at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
 
The Mavericks (2-0-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) opened the regular season with a pair of non-conference wins on the weekend, cementing head coach Luke Strand in his new role at the helm.
 
Newcomers Kaden Bohlsen and Brian Carrabes also had two-point nights for MSU, which hosts University of Massachusetts Friday and Saturday next week.
 
"I think we are building in the right direction," Morton said following the game. "We are just trying to put our best foot forward, making strides, building team chemistry, and working hard for each other every day."
 
The offense started for the Mavericks on their second extra man opportunity as MSU took a 1-0 lead 17:22 into the opening frame. Brian Carrabes' initial shot was blocked but the puck caromed to Morton's forehand and he deposited a wrist shot from inside the right circle into a mostly empty net.
 
Carrabes and Brandon Koch tallied their first career-first points in an MSU sweater on the play and the Mavericks led 10-7 in shots through 20 minutes.
 
Just 1:36 into the second period, Caden Bohlsen tried a wraparound and found Brenden Olson's forehand in the low slot. A pileup of SCSU defensemen impeded goaltender Dominic Basse's movement and Olson buried it for a 2-0 lead. Jordan Steinmetz collected a second assist as he and Bohlsen each tallied their first points at MSU.
 
It took Morton just 34 more seconds to score his second goal of the game (22^nd career) to make it 3-0. The Maverick captain skated into the zone, attempted a pass to the far side, and kicked it back to his stick after a deflection. Morton then snapped a high shot over Basse. The Maverick captain skated in 10 games last fall before an injury forced him out of the lineup for the rest of the season.
 
"Morty is an ultimate warrior," Strand said. "He stays on the right side of it. He doesn't cheat. He's our captain for a reason and you're just happy for a guy that had to go through it and come out the other side."
 
SCSU head coach Brett Larsen changed goaltenders to freshman Isak Posch prior to the ensuing faceoff and the Huskies sustained pressure through the final two minutes. Alex Tracy remained steadfast in goal for the Mavericks with 19 saves after two periods.
 
Jack Rogers hit the post two minutes after intermission for St. Cloud State and the Huskies added a sixth attacker with 6:40 to play in the third period. Kyler Kupka capitalized with SCSU's first tally 45 seconds later with Barrett Hall and Adam Ingram assisting.
 
After a pair of long-range empty net tries curled wide, Carrabes made it 4-1 with 2:59 left in regulation. Bohlsen then cashed a second MSU empty netter for a 5-1 score.
 
"It was a big test," Strand said. "We hadn't had a back-to-back yet so that was test number one. We played the right way and we had to learn how to play with a lead for the first time as well. I think those two were encouraging moments. I was happy with the way we got out of the gate and I'm proud of the guys. They are finding ways to be a team and happy and excited for each other."
 
St. Cloud State and Minnesota State each posted 30 shots on goal and Tracy recorded 29 saves in the win. The Mavericks finished 1-2 on the power play while St. Cloud State went 0-3.
 
The Mavericks took both games of a two-game set against St. Cloud State for the first time since 2016-17, helping cushion the blow of a 4-0 NCAA Regional Tournament loss to the Huskies in March.
 
Twelve players recorded at least one point for the Mavericks in the two games combined and Tracy amassed 50 total saves for a .943 save percentage.
 
"I think the weekend and the exhibition against Omaha we really showed what we can be and we can be a special group," Tracy said. "The execution wasn't there (against Nebraska Omaha) and we really hammered that in practice and came ready to go this weekend."
 
Minnesota State welcomes UMass on Friday, October 20 at 7:07 p.m. at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. The Minutemen are coming off a split with University of Michigan. St. Cloud State (1-3-0, 0-0-0 NCHC) returns home to play Alaska Fairbanks in a two game series.