MANKATO, Minn. – No. 14 Minnesota State used its roster depth to sweep Lake Superior State with a 3-2 win Saturday night in the CCHA Mason Cup quarterfinals. It was the ninth straight quarterfinal series sweep for the Mavericks after a 4-1 victory Friday at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
 
The Mavericks will host a CCHA Semifinal game on Saturday, March 8. Their opponent will be determined, and the game time is 7:07 p.m. CT. MSU outshot LSSU 35-22 and scored all three goals at even strength.
 
Blake Humphrey rifled a shot off the crossbar and in for the Lakers 2:24 into the game. Luciano Wilson answered for the Mavericks just over a minute later with his seventh goal of the season to even the score 1-1. Wilson skated around a defender along the wall after Will Hillman and Jordan Power passed the puck through the neutral zone and backhanded the shot past goaltender Rorke Applebee.
 
Johnny Druskinis hit the post from the point on LSSU's first power play and Alex Tracy stuck out his right pad to deny Everett Pietila on a breakaway. The Mavericks led 12-9 in shots after 20 minutes.
 
Goals came early in the second period. First, John Herrington found the net with a left point shot for the Lakers. Zach Krajnik evened the score 15 seconds later with his fourth goal of the weekend. Krajnik shoveled in a rebound in the crease following Luke Ashton's long-range wrister at 2:47.
 
Evan Murr helped the Mavericks take a 3-2 lead at 6:04, striding into the top of the circle and firing one high to the blocker side. Brian Carrabes picked up the primary assist. The Mavericks held off the Lakers with the net empty late.
 
Junior goaltender Alex Tracy made 20 saves for the Mavericks to collect his 24^th win. The Mavericks (25-8-3, 18-5-3 CCHA) won the MacNaughton Cup and were the top seed in the conference tournament. MSU has won the Mason Cup twice but were eliminated by Michigan Tech in the semifinals in Houghton last season.