The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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November 29, 2009

Seniors shine in series sweep

By Shane Frederick

MANKATO — Following the Minnesota State men’s hockey team’s series sweep over Michigan Tech, coach Troy Jutting had high praise for his senior class.

And why not? Seniors scored all but one of the Mavericks’ eight goals in the two victories.

On Friday, Geoff Irwin scored two goals, while Zach Harrison and Jerad Stewart each had one (sophomore Mike Louwerse had the other), and on Saturday, Harrison had one and Kael Mouillierat scored two.

“You look at our last four games and we’re 3-1,” Jutting said. “You had Jerad Stewart (with four goals) on Friday at Anchorage, Geoff Irwin and Zach Harrison last night and Kael Mouillierat tonight. Those kids have to do it for us.”

Harrison also had three assists on Friday to finish the weekend with five points, while Irwin had four points, including the first three-pointer of his college career on Friday, one week after Stewart had a five-point night against Alaska-Anchorage.

Harrison (four goals, eight assists) and Stewart (six goals, five assists) sit atop the MSU scoring list.

Harrison and Irwin played on the Mavericks’ top line, along with sophomore Tyler Thompson. Stewart and Mouillierat were on the second line with freshman Eriah Hayes.

“I think we’re feeding well off each other,” Mouillierat said of the line combinations. “We’re getting chemistry together with everybody.”

Looking to Lee
Austin Lee started both games in goal for the Mavericks and stopped 49 of 53 shots, including 11 of 12 during Michigan Tech power-play chances for a .925 save percentage.

“Austin did a good job,” Jutting said on Saturday after Lee allowed two late goals, including one with 14 seconds to play after the Huskies pulled their goalie, Josh Robinson, in the third period. “He gave up two goals on 24 shots. That’s over 90 percent. And he made some big saves. He gave up a breakaway — that’s not his fault — and a scramble in front.”

Lee, who has been battling freshman Kevin Murdock for the No. 1 job, has five of the Mavericks’ six wins. He has also improved his season save percentage to .913 and his goals-against average to 2.54.

Sweet sweep
The Mavericks’ two wins marked their first Western Collegiate Hockey Association sweep since Jan. 30-31 of last season when they took two games against Minnesota.

That was a home-and-home series. Minnesota State’s last home sweep against a conference opponent came on Feb. 8-9 of 2008 when they took two games from Alaska-Anchorage.

The Mavericks have now won four consecutive games against Michigan Tech.

“It was a really good weekend,” Jutting said. “We got four points.”

To open this season, Minnesota State swept Bowling Green in a nonconference series.

Loose pucks
Former Minnesota State defenseman Chad Brownlee, who is now a budding country-music artist, sang the National Anthem before Friday’s game. … The Mavericks controlled faceoffs all weekend, winning 76 and losing 47, including a 39-19 advantage on Saturday. … MSU made one lineup change from Friday to Saturday, replacing fourth-line left wing Eli Zuck with Adam Mueller.

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