MANKATO, Minn. – No. 16 Minnesota State men's hockey rallied and tied Bowling Green 4-4 in overtime Friday night at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Luigi Benincasa and Evan Murr scored to help the Mavericks win a shootout in the fifth round.
 
Senior Tristan Lemyre (Mirabel, Quebec) led MSU with two goals and two assists, marking the first four-point game in his collegiate career. Senior defenseman Campbell Cichosz (Albert Lea, Minn.) also contributed a goal and an assist.
 
Minnesota State (4-2-3, 1-1-1 CCHA) concludes its weekend series with Bowling Green (2-3-2, 2-1-2 CCHA) Saturday at 6:07 p.m. CT.
 
In a five-goal first period, the Mavericks scored three straight to take a 3-2 lead into the first intermission.
 
First, Connor Levis tipped Breck McKinley's point shot past Alex Tracy at 2:36 at even strength. Then an errant breakout pass assisted the Falcons on their second goal of the game. Adam Zlinka scored after officials ruled there was no goaltender interference on a play challenged by Minnesota State.
 
Lemyre's forecheck below the goal line helped the Mavericks begin to close the deficit. Lemyre partially deflected a pass, which floated into the low slot. Liam Watkins found it for his third goal of the season at 6:13.
 
Lemyre then wired a wrist shot from the right dot through goaltender Cole Moore to tie the score 2-2. Veteran defensemen Mason Wheeler and Cichosz assisted at 11:17. Lemyre struck again for his team-leading fifth marker of the season on the power play just over a minute later. Jack Smith and Ralfs Bergmanis collected assists and BGSU elected to make a goaltending change to freshman Jacob Steinman.
 
The teams skated 4-on-4 with coincidental minor penalties before Noah Morneau skated to the top of the circle and scored for Bowling Green at 16:51 of the second period, the only goal for either team in the middle frame.
 
Lemyre took a shot which landed under Steinman and Cichosz poked it across the line for a 4-3 lead 2:58 into the third period. Lemyre and Fin Williams, back from injury, assisted on Cichosz's first of the season. Morneau tied the game 6-on-5 with 1:03 remaining in regulation.
 
The Mavericks enjoyed a large share of the puck possession in overtime. Steinman stuck out his right pad to deny Ralfs Bergmanis on a 2-on-1 before the teams headed to a shootout.
 
Tyler Hotson scored on BGSU's first attempt but Tracy stopped the next four for Minnesota State's win in round five.
 
Mason Wheeler led the Mavericks with four blocked shots. Lemyre's six shots on goal led all skaters. Minnesota State's penalty kill was a perfect 2-2 while the team scored on one of two power plays. Tracy made 21 saves against 25 shots. Morneau led the Falcons with two goals and Morneau and Benincasa each won 10 faceoffs.