Late goal dooms Huskies Saturday in Mankato

• Game Highlights
• Coach Shawhan Interview

MANKATO, Minn. – No. 12 Minnesota State scored on the power play with 5:36 left to break a 2-2 tie and then tacked on an empty-netter to defeat Michigan Tech 4-2 Saturday (Jan. 5) at the Verizon Center. Trenton Bliss and Colin Swoyer scored for the Huskies.

"We played a good game tonight—outside of 30 seconds in the first period," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "We still need to develop that competitive greatness in the third period so we can bring our best when our best is needed.

"We played hard and competed hard. I thought a lot of guys brought a really good effort tonight."

Like Friday night, the Huskies found themselves down 2-0 after the first period. This time the Black and Gold battled all the way back to tie it.

Justin Misiak drew a penalty 1:52 into the second, and Trenton Bliss capitalized to draw the Huskies to within one. He tipped in a shot by Seamus Donohue for his sixth of the season and fifth on the man advantage at the 3:39 mark. Dylan Steman added the secondary assist.

Tech kept up the offensive pressure. TJ Polglaze had a partial breakaway 5:00 later that was turned away. Jake Jackson had a blast deflected into the netting, and Jake Lucchini had some chances at the side of the net.

Matt Jurusik came up huge for the Huskies later in the frame. He stopped Jared Spooner on a breakaway twice. Once in live play and again on a penalty shot after a call on the initial drive to the net.

Tech finally did tie it up 12:05 into the second, when Colin Swoyer shoveled in a rebound after a Jake Jackson breakaway was saved. It was Swoyer's second of the season with Greyson Reitmeier adding the secondary assist.

"Colin played a good game in a tough environment," added Shawhan. "I'm happy with his response tonight."

With the Huskies on the power play in the third period, Tech was whistled for a penalty to even it up and then give MSU a man advantage.

Charlie Gerard buried the game-winner on that power play when he cleaned up a rebound in front of Jurusik with 5:36 remaining. Ian Scheid and Chris Van Os-Shaw were credited with the assists.

The Mavericks controlled much of the play down the stretch. Coach Shawhan was finally able to pull Jurusik with 54 seconds left.

Donohue had a great chance on a one-timer in the final minute, but Dryden McKay was there for one of his 21 saves.

Dallas Gerads sealed the game for the home team with an empty-netter with 14 seconds left. Spooner had the assist.

MSU held a 31-23 advantage in shots on goal. Jurusik made 27 saves in his first appearance since December 7 at Northern Michigan.

Jake Jaremko opened the game's scoring when he redirected a sharp-angled shot by Gerard 5:34 into the game. It was on a delayed Tech penalty.

Walker Duehr made it 2-0 on the ensuing power play, burying a rebound in front with assists going to Gerads and Marc Michaelis

Tech falls to 10-10-2 overall and 9-4-1-1 in the WCHA. MSU now has a 16-5-1 overall and 11-3-0-0 league record. The Huskies and Mavericks will meet for the annual Winter Carnival series on February 8-9 in Houghton. The winner of the total goal series will receive the MacInnes Cup.

Tech returns home next weekend (January 11-12), hosting Bowling Green. The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. each night at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.