MANKATO, Minn. – Forward Rhett Pitlick buried a one-timer in overtime to lift Minnesota State to a 3-2 victory and series sweep over Bowling Green Saturday night at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
 
Josh Groll assisted on the game-winner 1:34 into the extra session as Pitlick finished with three points and his first multi-goal game as a Maverick.
 
The Falcons drew first blood 3:46 into the first period when Ben Doran snuck one off the crossbar and in. Quinn Emerson and Ryan O'Hara assisted.
 
Pitlick banged in his sixth goal of the year less than a minute later for the Mavericks. Kaden Bohlsen collected a turned-over puck in the neutral zone and slid it across in the low slot for Pitlick on the ensuing 2-on-1. The teams headed to intermission deadlocked.
 
The Mavericks potted the lone goal of the second period. After an effective shift in the offensive zone by Minnesota State's top line, Campbell Cichosz wired a wrist shot past Cole Moore from the right point through traffic at 11:15. Pitlick and Groll assisted on Cichosz's first marker of the season (second career goal).
 
The Falcons tied the score 2-2 at 1:35 of the third period. Jaden Grant shoveled the puck in after a lively bounce off the end dasher board.
 
Pitlick sprung through neutral ice in the first minute of overtime but Ryan O'Hara committed a slashing penalty to impede his progress.
 
Circling high in the offensive zone on the power play, Pitlick drifted to a sharp angle outside the dot and beat Moore over the glove to end the game.

"Kind of the way I look at hockey is, one-timers are an amazing thing," Pitlick quipped. "I think me and Josh Groll have great chemistry and we set each other up so that's what happened. I'm grateful he made that pass."
 
The Mavericks (12-4-2, 7-1-2 CCHA) extended their win streak to four games and are unbeaten in their last nine. Groll tallied a pair of assists and Cichosz blocked nine shots while Mason Wheeler stood in front of three.
 
Moore made saves for Bowling Green (5-7-2, 2-4-2 CCHA). Alex Tracy stopped 16 for MSU. Both teams totaled six penalty minutes and MSU led 36-18 in shots on goal.

The Mavericks remain home to host Lake Superior State (8-7-1, 6-2-0) Friday and Saturday at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. MSU and LSSU currently sit atop the CCHA Standings.