MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – St. Thomas scored a pair of late third period goals to salvage a series split against Minnesota State 2-1 Saturday evening at St. Thomas Ice Arena. Noah Prokop scored the game-winning goal at 16:16 of the third.

"We played a game we really liked for two and a half periods," reflected head coach Luke Strand. "At the moments of truth, we didn't get our jobs done. St. Thomas did a nice job of continuing to add pressure. It is a sour way to end the first half of our conference schedule. We let valuable points slip away tonight."
 
After a stop-and-start opening 20 minutes, Adam Eisele broke the scoreless tie at 5:39 of the second period for the Mavericks. Eisele peeled the puck off the boards through traffic, and found Zach Krajnik in front. After finding it again, Eisele snuck it under Jake Sibell and across the line. Krajnik and Josh Groll assisted.
 
The Tommies earned a scoring chance near the 15-minute mark but Brandon Koch broke up the 3-on-1 on the back door and the Mavericks went to the third period having surrendered just 14 shots on goal.
 
Following coincidental holding minors, Eisele and Josh Groll nearly connected off the rush early in the final period. Groll slid a pass for Eisele streaking in from the far side but Sibell made a save with his left pad and sent Eisele to the ice in the process.
 
Brian Carrabes centered the puck for a good scoring chance in the high slot for Lucas Sowder a short time later requiring another strong Sibell save.
 
Luc Laylin tied the game for the Tommies at 13:28. Keenan Rancier made the initial save after a point-shot from Ethan Gauer but Laylin put a backhander into a mostly empty goal on the rebound. Then Prokop gave the Tommies the lead less than three minutes later. Following a faceoff win, Rancier made a save on Quinton Pepper. The puck bounced back out to Prokop who wristed it back through traffic.
 
The Mavericks applied late pressure with the net empty but Sibell's glove save with 19.4 seconds left helped seal it for the home team.
 
Both teams finished 0-1 on the power play and shots on goal favored the Mavericks 29-27. Minnesota State is on the road December 15-16 to play RPI in a non-conference series prior to the holiday break.

The Mavericks (7-7-2, 5-4-1 CCHA) won Friday night's matchup against the Tommies (9-8-1, 7-5-0 CCHA) 3-1 in Mankato.