MARQUETTE, Mich. --- Minnesota State fell to Northern Michigan 2-1 Friday evening on the road. The Mavericks put 36 shots on goal to NMSU's 30 and converted one of three power-play chances, but were held scoreless in the first and third periods.
MSU is now 2-5-2 overall and 0-1-2 in CCHA action. NMU owns a 3-6-0 overall record and a 1-2-0 in conference record.
Minnesota State created several early looks, including attempts by
Mason Kraft,
Reid Morich and
Mason LeBel, but Northern Michigan kept the game scoreless through the opening stretch. NMU generated pressure near the midpoint of the first period, and Ian Engel scored at 11:44 off a Reilley Kotai assist to give the home team a 1-0 lead. The Mavericks killed
Bryce Strand's hooking penalty, later had a power play of their own, and closed the period with late attempts by
Will Skahan,
Liam Hupka,
Jakob Stender,
Jacob Conrad and
Alex Zetterberg, but the Wildcats carried the 1-0 lead into intermission.
Northern Michigan generated the early pressure in the second period, including a power play after
Liam Watkins was called for interference at 14:48, but
Lassi Lehti made three saves during the advantage and Minnesota State killed it off. The Mavericks later went on the power play after Coster Dunn's interference penalty at 7:35 and created several looks before
Easton Hewson scored his first goal as a Maverick at 5:52 off assists from Conrad and
Jack Christ, making it 1-1. Both teams generated chances in the closing minutes, with Minnesota State testing Oliver Auyeung-Ashton and Northern Michigan putting multiple late shots toward Lehti, but the period ended with the score tied 1-1.
Branden Piku scored for Northern Mich. at 4:11 of the third period off assists from Noah Houle and Coster Dunn, giving Northern Mich. a 2-1 lead. Minnesota State pressed on a power play after Darik Olson's interference penalty at 6:47, with Kraft, Zetterberg, Christ, Hewson, Conrad and Morich generating attempts before the advantage ended.
Northern Michigan went on the power play after Hewson was called for holding at 10:59, but Lehti stopped Evan Depatie's chance and the Mavericks returned to even strength. Minnesota State pulled its goalie at 18:40 and created late looks from Skahan, Kraft and
Luigi Benincasa, but NMU kept the final chances out and closed out a 2-1 final.
Hewson scored a power play goal and added two shots. Lehti finished with 28 saves.
Fin Williams won seven faceoffs at a 70% rate and blocked one shot. Kraft put five shots on goal as well.
Minnesota State wraps up its series with Northern Michigan on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. (CST) at Berry Events Center.
