BEMIDJI — Phil Cook continued his strong play in goal for the Minnesota State men’s hockey team Friday and Saturday night as the Mavericks split the Western Collegiate Hockey Association series with Bemidji State.

In his last six starts, Cook has allowed just 11 goals and has a .945 save percentage.

“I just play with an even keel,” the junior said. “I hate to be cliché about it, but I just take one shot at a time and don’t worry about the score.”

Cook wouldn’t take all the credit, though, and offered high praise to the Mavericks’ defensive play.

“I think our D did a great job of not turning the puck over in our zone and just getting it out,” Cook said. “That’s what our coaches have been stressing.”

During Saturday’s 5-2 victory, MSU had to play without senior defenseman Cameron Cooper, who had an upper-body injury that was the result of being checked from behind on Friday. Freshman Brett Stern, who has been battling an injury all season, filled in aptly.

“Brett Stern came in and stepped up for Cameron Cooper really good,” Cook said. “Hats off to our freshman D who are stepping up to the plate.”

Three freshmen defensemen played Saturday: Stern, Zach Palmquist and Mat Knoll. Stern was in a game for the first time since Jan. 14, but he has missed 14 games in his first season due to injuries.

“Brett Stern was very good,” MSU coach Troy Jutting. “ I thought Matt Knoll played well all weekend. … The reality of it is Brett played well every game he’s played. He just hasn’t gotten to play very many.”

Cook made a few highlight-reel saves throughout the series, but the Mavericks kept the Beavers’ quality chances to a minimum, Jutting said.

“I thought we did a good job of allowing the kinds of shots a goaltender should save and not giving up too many that make it difficult on your goaltender,” Jutting said. “We got our sticks on a lot more pucks tonight. We blocked a lot more shots.”

Feels like home

Park Rapids is about 50 miles from Bemidji, but it’s still the same neck of the woods to MSU sophomore Zach Lehrke.

Lehrke’s brother, Tyler, played four seasons at Bemidji State, and Zach played like he wanted to make a good impression on the locals there.

Lehrke, who is tied for second on the Mavericks’ scoring chart with 10 goals and 10 assists, finished the weekend with a goal and two assists. The goal on Saturday ended up standing as the game-winner. He also had nine shots on goal in the two games.

Staying on the subject of shots on goal, MSU’s Michael Dorr, who had a two-goal, two-assist weekend, was credited with 15 shots on goal in the series, including nine on Saturday.

Finally on the board

Mike Louwerse’s empty-net goal that sealed MSU’s win on Saturday was his first goal of the season. The senior also assisted on a goal, his third helper of the year.

In 128 games career games, Louwerse has 27 goals and 27 assists.

The empty-netter was also a power-play goal, the Mavericks’ only one of the weekend.

Singing in the rink

Longtime University of Minnesota national anthem singer Cathy St. Marin sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to Saturday’s game, giving her a chance to cross another rink off her bucket list.

St. Martin decided earlier this year that she wanted to sing the anthem in each of the WCHA’s 12 rinks. According to a story in the St. Cloud Times after she sang at the National Hockey Center earlier this season, St. Martin has previously performed at Colorado College, Denver and Michigan Tech.

Will Mankato be next?

Loose pucks

Saturday’s win broke a two-game losing streak to Bemidji State and also ended the Beavers’ six-game home winning streak. BSU is 9-4-1 at the Sanford Center this year. … Minnesota State is 4-10-0 on the road; Saturday’s win was just its second road victory in WCHA play this season. … Junior defenseman Tyler Elbrecht was plus-3 on Saturday.