MANKATO, Minn. – Josh Groll posted two points and Alex Tracy made 31 saves as Minnesota State defeated Bemidji State 5-1 Friday night in CCHA play at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in front of 4,941 fans.
 
The win helped the Mavericks (5-3-1, 3-0-0 CCHA) stay undefeated in conference play with an opportunity to grab a second straight weekend sweep Saturday at 6:07 p.m.
 
Groll picked up his first point of the season when he and Jordan Steinmetz assisted on Sam Morton's team-leading eighth goal this fall, extending the Maverick captain's point streak to five. Groll was forced into Bemidji State goaltender Enright, leaving the puck for Morton in the high slot for a wrist shot at 9:21 of the opening period.
 
The Beavers earned a pair of power plays in the final six minutes of the first, necessitating a pair of saves by Tracy on tipped point shots. Bemidji State held MSU to three first period shots.
 
Groll connected on his first goal of the season less than two minutes into the second period. After Steven Bellini's point shot made it through traffic in front, Groll found it, spun and found the lower left corner for a 2-0 lead. Adam Eisele also assisted (third).
 
"That was just a really good play by Luc (Wilson) and (Adam) Eisele to switch sides behind the net and get it to Steve (Bellini) up top," Groll reflected. "He just had a good shot, placed it well and made it easy for me to just tap it in."
 
The Beavers applied continuous pressure in the offensive zone at even strength, culminating in a hooking minor assessed to Brandon Koch. Tracy made six saves on the ensuing power play and the Mavericks kept the two-goal lead at the second intermission, despite being outshot 23-8.
 
Defenseman Eric Pohlkamp ended the scoring drought for BSU. He collected a loose puck in the Beaver zone and skated it down the left side for a short-side shot and rebound tap-in. Kaden Bohlsen responded for the Mavericks shy of two minutes later after Steinmetz collected his second assist of the game. Later, Tyler Haskins fed a one-timer pass cross-ice to Brenden Olson, who deposited it in a mostly empty net, handing MSU a 5-1 lead 9:53 into the third.
 
Evan Murr added an empty net power play marker at 17:37 for his second straight two-point night. Morton finished with a goal and three blocked shots and has nine points over his last five games.
 
Tracy's 31 saves rank second most this season for the netminder, who blocked a career-high 40 last time out against Ferris State.
 
"A bunch of credit goes to my teammates," Tracy said. "They played so great in front of me. Countless blocked shots. Pucks were coming from the outside and they were letting me see it so a huge credit to them."
 
The Beavers outshot the Mavericks 32-15 overall.
 
"I thought we found some bend but don't break moments and that changed the tide a little bit and capitalized on big goals," Strand said. "Groll was outstanding and gave us that push. Those are big moments to be able to turn defense into offense and score. Tracy was great tonight. He gave us a backbone and made some monster saves at the end. They (Bemidji State) have a talented group and they work hard offensively so I was glad Tracy worked hard to find pucks."
 
With three wins and a tie, the Mavericks have not lost since October 27 at North Dakota. The two teams face off again Saturday at 6:07 p.m. in Mankato. With the loss Bemidji State dropped to 4-7-0, 3-4-0 CCHA.