MANKATO, Minn. – Adam Eisele scored the game-winning goal and the Mavericks received contributions from their fourth line in a 5-2 CCHA victory over Michigan Technological University Friday night at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Minnesota State (16-5-2, 11-2-2 CCHA) can sweep the season series against the Huskies with a win Saturday at 6:07 p.m. CT.
 
Freshman Luke Ashton converted on the Mavericks' second power play of the opening period with a low left point shot through traffic. Luigi Benincasa (6) and Evan Murr (9) assisted on Ashton's fourth goal of the season at 7:41.
 
Senior Rhett Pitlick stood at the bottom of the circle and deflected Murr's shot heading wide from the right point with his backhand blade for his team-leading ninth of the year. Ralfs Bergmanis (6) added the second assist at 11:18.
 
Campbell Cichosz helped the Mavericks to their third goal after he carried the puck coast to coast and fired it toward the goal for a deflection off Adam Eisele in the slot with 12.3 seconds left in the period. The Mavericks went to the locker room with a 3-0 lead and a 14-4 advantage in shots.
 
Junior Stiven Sardarian responded for the Huskies early in the middle period. Senior Kaden Bohlsen blocked Kasper Vaharautio's initial shot. Then Sardarian one-timed the puck past Alex Tracy in the high slot.
 
Sophomore Jakob Stender slapped in a rebound for a 4-1 Maverick lead at 10:37, his third of the year. Senior Will Hillman (4) assisted. Nick Williams scored unassisted at 15:36 to cut the deficit to two, but Bohlsen added insurance under a minute later and the Mavericks improved to 3-0-0 against MTU in 2024-25.
 
Junior netminder Alex Tracy (16-5-2) totaled 16 saves for MSU. Derek Mullahy allowed three goals with 11 saves in the first period and was relieved by Ryan Manzella for the remainder. The Mavericks won 25 of 53 faceoffs and senior captain Josh Groll led the team, going 9-15.
 
Evan Murr finished with a pair of assists to extend his point streak to four games (2-4—6). Rhett Pitlick added a goal and an assist and Will Hillman pitched in an assist as the fourth line center on Stender's line.
 
The Mavericks lead the country in goals against per game and have lost one game since Nov. 1.