Mankato, MN – The 18th-ranked Falcons kept things interesting through two periods before the 2nd-ranked Minnesota State Mavericks handed Bowling Green a 5-1 loss thanks to a trio of third-period goals.
Eric Dop started in net for the Falcons, stopping 25 of 30 shots faced. Dryden McKay had 23 saves on 24 attempts for the Mavericks.
First Period
Minnesota State scored the game’s first goal at 8:39 of the first period. Connor Mackey completed a three-on-two rush to give the Mavs the 1-0 lead.
Bowling Green responded with a shorthanded breakaway goal at 9:18. Alec Rauhauser forced a turnover and was left all alone with McKay. Rauhauser’s initial shot was saved but the senior captain followed his rebound and buried it for his fourth goal of the season.
The Mavericks re-took the lead at 18:29 of the first period. A power-play goal by Marc Michaelis gave Minnesota State a 2-1 lead.
Minnesota State had 13 shots in the opening period while Bowling Green had seven attempts on net.
Second Period
Despite some power-play chances, neither team found the net in the middle frame.
Bowling Green had nine shots on net in the second period while Minnesota State had six chances.
Third Period
Jared Spooner found the net at 9:06 of the third period to extend the Mavericks’ lead to 3-1. Julian Napravnik’s goal at 11:39 gave Minnesota State a 4-1 lead.
Charlie Gerard scored the Mavericks’ fifth goal at 17:34 on the power play to seal the win for Minnesota State.
Minnesota State had 11 shots in the final frame while Bowling Green had eight attempts.
With the loss, the Falcons fall to 5-4-0, 2-2-0-0. The Mavericks improve to 6-1-1, 3-1-0-0.
Bowling Green will head to Anchorage, Alaska in two weeks to continue WCHA play against the Seawolves.
