MANKATO, Minn. — Similar to Friday night, St. Thomas hung with Minnesota State, the top-ranked team in the country, for a bit. But the Mavericks came out hot in the second period to break open a 1-1 game and cruised to an 8-2 win Saturday, March 5 over the Tommies to sweep their CCHA best-of-three Mason Cup quarterfinal series at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
Ondrej Pavel scored two goals and had an assist for the Mavericks, who have now won 13 straight and set a new school record with 33 wins this season. Minnesota State outshot St. Thomas 50-14.
Grant Loven scored on the power play for St. Thomas to knot the game at 1-1 midway through the first period. In the second, Ryan Sandelin put the Mavericks in front for good with a power play goal of his own. Then, three unanswered goals later, Minnesota State held a commanding 5-1 lead after two periods with senior netminder Dryden McKay needing to stop just two St. Thomas shots in that period.
Nathan Smith 🤝 Ryan Sandelin pic.twitter.com/6ySzzYOhLq
— Minnesota State Hockey (@MinnStMHockey) March 6, 2022
McKay has all of the Mavericks' victories this season, and his 33rd win moves him into a tie for third on the Division I men's single-season list, just one shy of the record held by Marty Turco (Michigan 1995-96) and Robb Stauber (Minnesota 1987-88).
Minnesota State's Sam Morton had a goal and two assists. Connor Gregga, Lucas Sowder, Reggie Lutz and Cade Borchard also added goals.
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The Mavericks will host a semifinal game against the CCHA's lowest remaining seed next Saturday.
