MANKATO, Minn. – No. 16 Minnesota State men's hockey commanded a 5-1 victory over Ferris State to open the CCHA Mason Cup Quarterfinals at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center on Friday. With five different goal scorers, Alex Zetterberg and Jack Smith led the way with two-points apiece and the Mavericks outshot the Bulldogs 35-13 overall.
 
The Mavericks (19-9-7) will attempt to close out a first round series for the 10th straight season on Saturday at 6:07 p.m. CT. Minnesota State has not lost a first round game since 2016 (Lake Superior State). Fans can listen live on AM 1420 KTOE.
 
With the first nine shots of the game, the Mavericks wasted little time with an even strength goal 1:59 into the opening period. Ean Somoza fed the puck in front for three tries in the crease by Zetterberg. Jack Smith entered the fray and banged in his 10^th of the season at the far post. The Mavericks finished the period with a 15-4 advantage in shots on goal.
 
Zetterberg cleaned up a rebound in the low slot 9:10 into the middle stanza. Smith took the initial shot and Ean Somoza also assisted on Zetterberg's sixth marker of the year. Xavier Jean-Louis responded at 10:41 with an even strength goal for Ferris State for a 3-1 score, heading into the third.
 
Mason LeBel peeled the puck off the wall in the Maverick zone, and Campbell Cichosz skated it through neutral ice, then backhanded in his fourth goal of the season 6:35 into the final frame. Luigi Benincasa floated an empty net goal the length of the sheet to seal the win late.
 
Minnesota State finished 0-4 on the power play. Ferris State went 0-2. Alex Tracy made 12 saves for the Mavericks while Martin Lunberg stopped 30 for the visitors.