BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Scoring a season-high seven unanswered goals, Minnesota State stormed back for a 7-2 victory Saturday night over Ferris State at Ewigleben Arena to split the weekend series.
Kaden Bohlsen and
Adam Eisele notched multi-goal games and
Josh Groll finished with three points (1-2—3) to help the Mavericks.
Alex Tracy made 23 saves in net.
"It was a very good response from our group," said head coach
Luke Strand. "The way we played aligned with one another was the difference."
Minnesota State (17-7-2, 12-4-2 CCHA) returns to Mankato to begin a series with St. Thomas on Friday with eight games remaining in the regular season in the chase for the MacNaughton Cup. The Mavericks converted two power play goals and fired 37 shots on Noah West, who recorded a shutout for the Bulldogs Friday night.
Gavin Best scored first for the Bulldogs. Then Caiden Gault tipped in a shot for a 2-0 lead 38 seconds later at 4:42.
Adam Eisele responded for Minnesota State with a one-timer to the far post off his own rebound. Later,
Zach Krajnik fed one across to
Kaden Bohlsen on a 3-on-2 zone entry and the Mavericks tied it 2-2 before the first break.
Ralfs Bergmanis connected on a one-timer from the dot to the top left corner, off a goal-line feed from Krajnik in the middle period for a 3-2 lead.
Kaden Bohlsen made it 4-2 on the power play with his sixth of the season after he tapped in a pass on the back door from
Josh Groll (12).
Steven Bellini also assisted. MSU led 24-19 in shots on goal after two.
Eisele tallied the Mavericks' second power play goal early in the third period after a pass from Benincasa.
Josh Groll made it six unanswered goals with a sharp-angle wrister 7:19 into the third period from
Rhett Pitlick. Then Pitlick put an exclamation point on the evening with a tip in front of West at 15:25. Groll took the initial shot and Eisele added the second assist.
Minnesota State's penalty kill went 3-3 and the Mavericks won 23-58 faceoffs. Ferris State (8-16-2, 7-11-0 CCHA) fell to 4-7-2 at home. The Bulldogs travel to Bemidji State next weekend.
