MANKATO, Minn. - Amid their second three-game win streak this season, the Mavericks continue by traveling to Bowling Green Jan. 19-20 for a CCHA series against the Falcons. Both games begin at 7:07 Eastern Standard Time. Fans can watch via FloHockey.tv or listen locally on KTOE AM 1420.

Minnesota State is currently fourth in the conference standings with 23 points but have two games in hand over both St. Thomas (27 pts) and Bemidji State (25 pts), and three games in hand over Lake Superior State (24 pts). 

Last Weekend

• Minnesota State swept Ferris State at home 4-2 Friday and 4-0 Saturday. Lucas Sowder scored a pair of goals and Jordan Steinmetz tallied the game winner Friday night. After more than a month away from Mankato, MSU posted two shorthanded goals in a game for the first time since February 5, 2016. The Mavericks never trailed and Keenan Rancier made 26 saves to collect his fourth win in goal. The Mavericks went 1-for-4 on the power play.
• Scoring just 2:38 into the first period Saturday, the Mavericks never looks back and outshot the Bulldogs 40-24 in the process. Josh Groll and Luc Wilson posted a goal and an assist each and Adam Eisele helped with a pair of assists. The Mavericks killed five minor penalties and Alex Tracy earned his second career shutout.
• The Mavericks outscored Ferris State 17-6 over their four matchups this year to sweep the season series 4-0.

Groll Named CCHA Forward of the Week

• Minnesota State junior Josh Groll (San Diego, California) was named CCHA Forward of the Week for his efforts in last weekend's sweep over Ferris State at home. Groll is the sixth Maverick to win a CCHA weekly award this season and the second forward (Adam Eisele - Jan. 3).
• In Friday night's 4-2 victory, Groll scored on the power play in the opening period. Groll then recorded his third multi-point game Saturday, including the game-winning goal just 2:12 into the first period. On the weekend, he totaled two goals and one assist with six shots on goal and a plus-1 rating.
• Monday marked the first time in Groll's career he was named CCHA Forward of the Week. This season he has four goals, seven assists and 11 points to match his 2022-23 season point total. 

Morty By the Numbers

• The Maverick captain ranks fourth in the nation with 16 goals, after he scored once at Augustana and once in last weekend's series against Ferris State. Morton trails only Jack Devine (18, Denver), Dylan Wendt (17, Western Michigan) and Jimmy Snuggerud (17, Minnesota) in Division I. 
• His six power play goals are tied for ninth in the nation.
• Morton's 1.09 points per game are second best in the CCHA and his team-leading 24 points are second in the conference only to Jared Wescott (27, Lake Superior State). 
• His 4.00 shots per game are second highest in the CCHA.
• Morton leads the league in total faceoff wins (262-223) and ranks ninth in faceoff percentage (.540). 
• Also a strong defender, Morton leads the Mavericks and ranks second in the CCHA with a plus-11 ledger, after a plus-3 weekend.

A Check of the Polls

• Minnesota State received 15 national votes in Monday's USCHO.com Division I men's hockey Top-20 rankings poll. The Mavericks have received on ten occasions and did so for the third straight week following the holiday break. The MSU has been ranked as high as No. 20/19 in the nation (week two). The Mavericks continued to lead the CCHA in the Pairwise Rankings at No. 28. Fellow CCHA foe St. Thomas also received votes this week. The Mavericks also received votes in this week's USA Hockey/The Rink Live Division I poll.

Scouting the Falcons

• Bowling Green (7-15-0, 5-7-1 CCHA) enters the weekend on a five game losing streak. BGSU's last win came at home against Ferris State on December 9.
• Last weekend, the Falcons traveled to Ohio State for a non-conference series with the Buckeyes.
• BGSU fell 6-2 Friday at Value City Arena and 4-2 Saturday after allowing a pair of third period goals.
• Head coach Ty Eigner has been at the helm since April 20, 2019. The 1993 Bowling Green graduate previously spent nine years as assistant coach of the Falcons. His playing career included three years at the professional level.
• Eigner guided the 2022-23 Falcons to third place in the in the CCHA during the regular season. 
• Preseason CCHA player of the year Austen Swankler transferred to Michigan Tech prior to the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
• Junior forward Ryan O'Hara (Oakville, Ontario) leads the team with in goals (9) and points (17) with one game winning goal and 76 shots on goal. O'Hara has one goal and two assists over his last five outings, with one assist in the Ohio State series.
• The Falcons have swept a series once this season, December 8-9 over Ferris State and the team is 4-7 on home ice.

Last Year They Met

• The Mavericks and Falcons met four times during the regular season in 2022-23. In Mankato, MSU won 3-2 in overtime and 4-2.
• Then the Mavericks swept the season series with 2-1 and 6-2 wins at Slater Family Ice Arena.
• Bowling Green lost a pair of overtime games in the CCHA Mason Cup Quarterfinals to Ferris State March 3-4 to end the year.

All-Time Against Ferris State

• Minnesota State leads the all-time series 26-10-3 in games dating back to 2008-09. 
• MSU has won each of the previous 13 meetings, a streak that began during the 2019-20 campaign. 

MSU Team Summary

• Goals for: 3.35 (1st)
• Goals against: 2.55 (1st)
• Shots on goal: 31.5 (1st)
• Power Play Percentage: .205 (4th)
• Penalties per Game: 3.77 (6th)
• Penalty Kill Percentage: .797 (3rd)
• Faceoff Win Percentage: .505 (3rd)
• Blocked Shots per Game: 11.45 (6th)

Special Teams Report

• The Mavericks went 1-4 on the power play Friday night with an extra man tally from Josh Groll in the first period. MSU all four penalties and scored two short handed goals.
• Saturday, neither team converted on the power play. MSU had four opportunities while the Bulldogs went 0-for-5. 

CCHA Scores Last Friday:

• Minnesota State 4, Ferris State -2
• Lake Superior State -5, Northern Michigan -1

CCHA Scores Last Saturday:

• St. Thomas -3, Michigan Tech -1
• Lake Superior State -5, Northern Michigan -2
• Minnesota State -4, Ferris State -0

CCHA Matchups Friday:

• Lake Superior State at Ferris State 7:07 p.m. ET
• Bemidji State at Michigan Tech 7:07 p.m. ET
• St. Thomas at Northern Michigan 7:07 p.m. ET
• Minnesota State at Bowling Green 7:07 p.m. ET
• Augustana at Arizona State 8 p.m. CT

CCHA Matchups Saturday:

• Ferris State at Lake Superior State 6:07 p.m.
• Bemidji State at Michigan Tech 6:07 p.m. ET
• St. Thomas at Northern Michigan 6:07 p.m. ET
• Minnesota State at Bowling Green 7:07 p.m. ET
• Augustana at Arizona State 8 p.m. CT