Minnesota State University, Mankato outlasted Bemidji State University Friday night, netting four goals in the third period to gain a 5-2 victory at Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, Minn.
The Mavericks out shot BSU 48-28 in the game, which included a 17-9 advantage during the final 20 minutes alone, and used a pair of third-period power-play markers to separate itself from the Beavers.
Despite turning aside 43 Mavericks’ shots on goal, BSU goaltender Andrew Walsh (Dawson Creek, British Columbia) surrendered five goals and was tagged with the loss.
Brendan Harms (Fr., F, Steinbach, Manitoba) gave the Beavers a 1-0 lead at the 12:46 mark of the first period fellow freshman Nate Arentz (F, Lakeville, Minn.) came up with a turnover. The lead would last into the third minute of the second period when MSU’s Jean-Paul Lafontaine netted his 17th goal of the season.
Walsh stopped 30 of 31 shots face during the first 40 minutes of play and gave the Beavers a chance for victory, tied 1-1 heading into the third period, but MSU would strike twice in the first five minutes of the third period, and despite a BSU goal from Cory Ward (Las Vegas, Nev.) at the 16:45 mark, the Mavericks would add two late and cruise to the three-goal victory.
The Mavericks won the battle of special teams, as one of the nations top power-play units in MSU went head-to-head with one of the nation’s top penalty-kill units in BSU. The Mavericks were 2-for-4 on the man advantage and the Beavers went scoreless on four power-play chances.
Bemidji State (8-14-7; 8-9-4 WCHA) will attempt to salvage a series split and two important points in the WCHA standings tomorrow when its battles the same Minnesota State (16-13-0; 14-7-0 WCHA) team in a 7:07 p.m. match up at Verizon Wireless Center.