Minnesota State hockey takes care of UND
Andrew Neururer
Sports Editor
The Minnesota State Mavericks men’s hockey went 1-0-1 against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
In the first game, the Mavericks found themselves taking the early lead after junior Walker Duehr and freshman Nathan Smith assisted freshman Lucas Sowder on his second goal of the season.
UND went on a run of their own, blanking MSU and finding themselves up with a 3-1 lead. MSU trailed the majority of the game but kept it competitive throughout the game.
After North Dakota went up 3-1, senior Edwin Hookenson scored on an assist from Sowder and Smith early in the second period.
As soon as it seemed MSU was going to make a comeback, UND denied that opportunity when they score late in the second period.
Not long after that, Smith continued his big game with an unassisted goal about a minute later.
Smith and Sowder would then assist junior Connor Mackey on a goal late in the third period that eventually brought the game to a tie at 4-4.
The game would go into overtime, but after five minutes of play, there was no winner – resulting in a tie.
Smith finished the game with one goal and three assists. Sowder ended the night with a goal and two assists. Both players made up for most of the Mavericks offense.
The second game was just as tight, but the Mavericks would end up winning the game 2-1. The Fighting Hawks got off to a quick start, scoring the first goal midway through the first period.
Right off the bat, senior Marc Michaelis scored 26 seconds into the game off of a Sowder and Mackey assist.
Hookenson would break the tie five minutes into the third period, after Michaelis assisted him. Michaelis was a huge part of the Mavericks offense on Oct. 19. He finished with one goal and an assist.
The No. 2 ranked Mavericks will travel to Alabama to take on Alabama Huntsville.
Header photo: Minnesota State forward Walker Duehr (17) shoots the puck in the second period of a hockey game against the University of North Dakota at the Mankato Civic Center Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 in Mankato, Minn. (Mansoor Ahmad/MSU Reporter)