ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Minnesota State women's hockey scored first and added to the lead in the third period to upend No. 8 ranked St. Cloud State 4-1 Friday night at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in WCHA play.
 
Four different goal scorers contributed as the Mavericks collected their first conference victory of the season.
 
The offense started 11:11 into the opening frame. Sydney Langseth fired a shot from the top of the circle and followed her rebound for a second opportunity. Another rebound ricocheted to Vekich, who posted her third goal of the season. Langseth and Jamie Nelson added assists as the Mavericks took a 1-0 lead into intermission.
 
Nelson made it 2-0 Mavericks at the 14-minute mark of the middle period. Lilie Ramirez wristed a shot from the point and Nelson tipped it through the high slot for her first of the season.
 
Avery Farell cut the deficit in half on a one-timer shot from Laura Zimmerman on zone entry for the Huskies. The time of the goal was 16:30 at even strength.
 
Bella Shipley won a puck battle and roofed a goal over the blocker of goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö for a 3-1 lead early in the third for MSU. Madison Mashuga assisted. Taylor Otremba added insurance at 11:59 with an even strength marker from Nelson and goaltender Hailey Hansen.
 
Nelson finished with a team-high seven shots on goal and MSU outshot the Huskies 33-30 overall. Hansen stopped 28 of 29 shots in the victory and the Mavericks won 36 of 52 faceoffs (69.2-percent).  

"I thought we played a consistent sixty-minute game," said head coach Shari Dickerman. "We did a great job on the faceoff dot and were willing to block shots. I'm really proud of the effort from the entire lineup. Everyone contributed to the win."
 
Minnesota State (3-5-1, 1-4-1 WCHA) and St. Cloud State (7-4-2, 3-4-2 WCHA) resume Saturday to conclude the series at 3 p.m. CT.