MANKATO, Minn. – Luigi Benincasa put away his ninth goal of the year and Mason Wheeler tallied his first as No. 16 Minnesota State defeated Ferris State 2-0 Sunday night in the CCHA Quarterfinals to advance in the conference tournament next week. Both Maverick goals came at even strength in the second period. Goaltender Alex Tracy made 17 saves for his 13^th career shutout.
 
The top-seeded Mavericks (20-10-7) took the best of three series against the eighth seeded Bulldogs following a 5-1 win on Friday and a 2-1 overtime loss on Saturday at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Sunday, MSU outshot FSU 46-17 and held the Bulldogs off the scoreboard for the final 3:10 of regulation with the extra attacker on.
 
After a scoreless first period, Tristan Lemyre deflected the puck to Benincasa in front of the Ferris State crease. He deposited his team-leading ninth goal of the season 1:32 into the second period.
 
Wheeler made it 2-0 at 15:57 when he skated into the circle from the left point and found room for a wrist shot above goaltender Martin Lundberg's glove. Campbell Cichosz and Ean Somoza assisted on Wheeler's first goal of the season as the Mavericks outshot the Bulldogs 21-5 in the middle period.
 
Jakob Stender helped the Mavericks in the faceoff circle, winning 15 of 19 draws and MSU won 59.7-percent of faceoffs overall. The Mavericks finished 0-5 on the power play but successfully killed three minor penalties.
 
The Mavericks host No. 4 seed and 20^th-ranked Michigan Tech (23-12-3) in a single-game semifinal on Saturday, March 14 at 7 p.m. CT. The Huskies defeated Bowling Green in two games in the quarterfinals in Houghton. The other Mason Cup semifinal features No. 2 seed St. Thomas and No. 3 seed Augustana at 4:07 p.m. CT.
 
After Sunday's game, the Mavericks celebrated the MacNaughton Cup CCHA regular season championship with an on-ice presentation and CCHA commissioner Don Lucia.
 
The Mavericks last faced Michigan Tech in the postseason on March 16, 2024. The Huskies won the CCHA Semifinal game 4-3 in Houghton, Michigan.

Current Maverick season ticket holders can purchase Mason Cup semifinal tickets online now at www.msumavericks.com/26SeasonTickets. MCHSEC Box Office Hours - Mon.-Fri.: 10-3 p.m.; Saturday 3 p.m.- Game Time.