Mavericks conclude perfect month with sweep against Bulldogs
The Minnesota State Men’s Hockey team improved their win-streak this past weekend with a series sweep against Ferris State, bringing it to a season-high eight games. With their two wins against the Bulldogs last weekend, the Mavericks jump to No. 13 in the USCHO poll and now sit in first place in the CCHA rankings.
Junior forward, Josh Groll, scored the game-winner on Friday for his fifth goal of the season in the Mavericks 4-1 win over the Bulldogs. Saturday proved to be a team effort as 12 different Mavericks recorded a point in their 5-1 win in the series finale.
The Bulldogs opened Friday night’s game in convincing fashion as they outplayed the Mavericks heavily in the first period. Despite Ferris State outshooting Minnesota State 10-5 in the first, it was the Mavericks who were able to get on the board first.
With just under five minutes left in the first, junior forward, Ondrej Pavel, picked up the game’s opening goal, going five-hole on Bulldog netminder, Noah Giesbrecht. The hosts answered back three minutes later as they were able to knot the game up at 1-1.
The tides turned to Minnesota State’s favor in the second period as they outshot Ferris State 15-5. Groll, alongside junior forward, David Silye, each picked up goals, respectively, that gave the Mavericks a two-goal lead heading into the final frame.
The third period seemed to be a much more even affair, as the shot total was 9-8 in favor of the Mavericks. Silye added an insurance marker at 10:48 of the period, as Minnesota State went on to win by a score of 4-1.
Saturday’s game opened with a fast period for both teams, but with nothing to show for it. The game’s opening goal came just over a minute into the second period as Silye picked up goal number 20 on the season.
Three more goals were scored within the next four minutes that saw Minnesota State leading by a score of 3-1. The Mavericks took that lead into the locker room with them heading into the third period.
The Mavericks once again opened the period with an early goal, as freshman forward, Christian Fitzgerald, picked up his eighth goal of the year. Senior forward, Ryan Sandelin, would bring the Mavericks’ lead to 5-1 with under six minutes left to play.
Minnesota State went on to win by a 5-1 margin and concluded the month of January at a perfect 8-0-0. Rancier, who won all eight games this month, finished this weekend with 38 saves on 40 shots.
Minnesota State will be back in action this weekend as they take on St. Thomas in a home-and-home matchup. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. Friday and 6:07 p.m. Saturday.
Write to Karson Buelow at Karson.Buelow@mnsu.edu
Header Photo: MSU Men’s Hockey team sweeps the month of January with the two-game away series victory against Ferris State. The Mavericks won 4-1 Friday, Jan. 27 & 5-1 Saturday, Jan. 28, extending their streak to eight wins in a row. (Dylan Engel)