MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State men's hockey tied the game late in the third period but fell 4-3 in overtime to St. Thomas Saturday at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. The Mavericks are 4-2-2 through their first eight regular season games and 1-1-0 in CCHA play.
 
After a scoreless first period, Charlie Shoen took advantage of a turnover behind the goal line and fed the puck in front to Dylan Godbout for the game's first goal at 9:56 of the second period.
 
Tristan Lemyre evened the score at 19:08, with assists from Liam Watkins and Ralfs Bergmanis. It was Lemyre's third goal of the season and the Mavericks outshot the Tommies 15-5 in the middle frame.
 
Watkins pulled a faceoff back and Luigi Benincasa wristed in his third goal of the season off a UST deflection to make it 2-1 Mavericks just 31 seconds into the third period. Benincasa had been waiting at the top of the circle.
 
Four minor penalties hurt MSU's positive momentum. Ryan O'Neill tied the score at 4:54 and Alex Gaffney's great individual effort gave St. Thomas the lead 3-2.
 
With their backs against the wall, Jack Smith one-timed a shot to the back of the net at 18:47, sending the game to 3-on-3 overtime.
 
Nathan Pilling converted on an odd-man rush for UST to seal it for the Tommies.
 
Lemyre finished with one goal and one assist and Watkins posted two assists to lead the offense for the Mavericks. MSU's penalty kill went 6-6 on the night while the power play was 0-4. The Mavericks also won 28 of 59 faceoffs.
 
William Ingemann made 27 saves for the Tommies (3-5-1, 1-1-0 CCHA) while Alex Tracy turned aside 24 shots for Minnesota State. The Mavericks host another CCHA opponent, Bowling Green on Friday and Saturday next week. Game times are 7:07 p.m. and 6:07 p.m.