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November 28, 2010

Mavericks complete sweep of UMass-Lowell

MSU men’s hockey team wraps road trip at 3-4-1

By Shane Frederick Free Press Staff Writer

— The long and winding road the Minnesota State men’s hockey team has been on for the last five weeks ended on a high note.

The Mavericks defeated Massachusetts-Lowell 3-2 on Saturday at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass., to complete the sweep of the nonconference series.

Going into the weekend, MSU had lost four games in a row. It finished the 11,600-mile road swing, which included trips to Alaska, Nebraska, Colorado and Massachusetts, with a 3-4-1 record.

“Anytime you can win a game on the road is a good thing,” coach Troy Jutting said in a phone interview following the game. “To sweep on the road, obviously, it’s a good weekend. It’s something to build on.”

Freshman forward Chase Grant scored the game-winning goal at 5:48 of the third period, breaking a 2-2 tie.

Grant, who missed the Mavericks’ last series with an injury, also had an assist and two helpers in Friday’s 8-3 victory for a four-point weekend.

“Chase played very well,” Jutting said. “(Justin Jokinen) had a great weekend, and Zach Lehrke had a really good weekend.”

Jokinen had a hat trick in Friday’s victory. Lehrke had a three-point series, including his first collegiate goal on Saturday. Kurt Davis scored MSU’s other goal on Saturday.

“We had good, solid play by all four lines,” Jutting said. “Defensively, I thought we played very well. We didn’t give up a lot of great opportunities, especially in the third period. On the road, up a goal, to only allow five shots (in the third), that’s very good.”

The Mavericks outshot the River Hawks 36-28, including a 20-11 advantage in the second period.

Phil Cook made 26 saves for the victory. Doug Carr stopped 33 shots, with 19 in the middle period to keep the game close.

The River Hawks struck first and had a 1-0 lead after one period on a goal by Riley Wetmore with 1:45 remaining in the period. Lehrke tied the game at 1:42 of the second, getting an assist from Grant.

Davis made it 2-1 just 55 seconds into the third period, but Wetmore scored short-handed less than two minutes later to tie the game again.

However, it took just three minutes for Grant to score his fourth goal of the season and give his team the lead for good.

Jutting made two lineup changes on Saturday, starting Cook in goal and playing defenseman Evan Mosey for Ben Youds, who was out with an upper-body injury. Junior forward Mike Louwerse was a scratch both nights (coach’s decision).

The Mavericks (4-6-4) will play their first home game since Oct. 23 on Friday when they host Minnesota.

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