OMAHA, Neb. – Senior Alex Tracy made 30 saves and No. 20 Minnesota State collected a 4-1 non-conference road victory over University of Nebraska Omaha Saturday night at Baxter Arena. The teams combined for 86 penalty minutes but MSU scored four power play goals and pulled away late in the third period.
 
Minnesota State (1-1) split the weekend series against Omaha (1-1), who earned the 'Spirit of the Maverick' trophy, based on goal differential from a 6-2 final score Friday night.
 
Charlie Lurie (one goal, one assist) and Luigi Benincasa (two assists) led the Mavericks with multi-point games, and Jack Smith won nine of 13 faceoffs.
 
Junior Evan Murr skated in unimpeded to the low slot and wired his first goal of the season past Simon Latkoczy on the power play. Charlie Lurie assisted at 1:58 as the Mavericks took advantage of a major penalty and game misconduct penalty assessed to UNO's Spencer Sova in the first period.
 
Lurie added his first goal of the season 4:35 into the second stanza. Ean Somoza and Luigi Benincasa played catch inside the UNO zone, then Somoza found Lurie for a one-timer on the back post as MSU doubled its advantage to 2-0.
 
At the mid-point of the third period, Minnesota State skated shorthanded for five minutes following a major penalty. With players piling up in the crease, Maxime Pellerin swatted the loose puck across the line and was awarded a goal after a lengthy official review.
 
After another major penalty against Omaha with 5:18 remaining in regulation, Minnesota State's Jakob Stender skated in for an empty net goal.
 
Jacob Conrad added insurance at even strength with his first goal of the season after Luigi Benincasa intercepted a breakout pass and slid the puck across for Conrad at the far post.
 
The Mavericks finished 4-for-10 with the man-advantage. Omaha converted on 1 of 6 power play opportunities. UNO outshot MSU 31-29. Each team blocked five shots.

"It was a great response to adversity," commented head coach Luke Strand. "I commend our group for playing a committed team game. It was great to see our team step up in moments of truth."
 
The Mavericks travel to No. 18 Wisconsin next week with games scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. and Friday, October 17 at 7 p.m. in Madison. It is the first meeting between old WCHA rivals since March 21, 2013.