MANKATO, Minn. – Josh Groll scored his first two goals of the season on the top line but the No. 20 Mavericks came up short 3-2 Friday to No. 5 North Dakota in front of 4,912 fans at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
 
Groll poked a loose puck under TJ Semptimphelter at 14:42 of the first period. The senior captain connected again at even strength early in the second period. Cruising through the neutral zone Adam Eisele fed Groll at the top of the circle, who dusted it off and fired a snapshot glove side for a 2-0 advantage. Eisele and Rhett Pitlick assisted on both MSU goals.
 
Minutes later, UND's Jayden Perron broke his stick with a wrist shot off the post on the power play. Then Alex Tracy slid across for a left pad save on the back door to kill off a minor penalty.
 
The momentum swung toward North Dakota late in the second period. Zach Krajnik backhanded one past the goal line but the goal was disallowed, and a major penalty and game misconduct was assessed to Eisele for contact to the head.
 
Still shorthanded at the start of the third period, it took UND's Cameron Berg 40 seconds to bang in a rebound off the end boards. Louis Jamernik tied it 2-2 just 18 seconds later for UND.
 
Carter Wilkie put away the eventual game-winner with a clean shot as he charged in from the left circle on the rush.
 
The Mavericks led 25-22 in shots on goal. Groll and Will Hillman each recorded four. Mason Wheeler blocked five shots. Minnesota State finished 0-1 on the power play. North Dakota converted 2-4.
 
Tracy recorded 19 saves for the Mavericks while Semptimphelter made 23 stops for the Fighting Hawks.
 
Both teams will be back Saturday night at 6:07 p.m. for the final game of the weekend series.