MANKATO, Minn. – Ean Somoza put away a pair of goals and No. 20 Minnesota State men's hockey snapped its skid with a 4-1 home victory over No. 14 Augustana Saturday night at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
 
The Mavericks broke open the game in the third period with three goals and Alex Tracy made 16 saves in the effort. Minnesota State (13-8-5, 9-6-3 CCHA) travels to Ferris State next weekend with eight games remaining in the regular season.
 
Colton Friesen one-timed a pass across the slot from Quinn Rudrud 2:17 into the opening period. Owen Baumgartner also assisted on the Vikings' first goal and first shot of the game. The Mavericks held an 11-7 edge in shots on goal after 20 minutes but trailed 1-0.
 
Luigi Benincasa leveled the game 1-1 when he tipped in Tristan Lemyre's point-shot at 5:27 of the second period, his sixth of the season. Evan Murr collected his team-leading 15^th assist.
 
Ean Somoza found the puck in the crease for the lead 5:27 into the final stanza. Alex Zetterberg and Jack Smith added assists. Then Lemyre found space with a high, sharp-angle wrist shot to open the third period for the Mavericks, assisted by Liam Watkins and Bryce Strand. Lemyre leads the team with 11 goals.
 
Somoza cleaned up another rebound in the crease for his second of the game at the mid-point of the third period, from Smith and Ralfs Bergmanis.
 
Augustana killed a major penalty in the waning minutes of regulation and the Mavericks skated away with a win.
 
Neither team scored on the power play in three opportunities and the Mavericks outshot Augustana 32-17, including a 13-8 edge in the third period. Josh Kotai made 28 saves in goal for the Vikings.