The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Sports

December 17, 2005

Mavs fall to Tech

Huskies’ goalie stops 41 MSU shots

Free Press staff

HOUGHTON, MICH. — Goal scoring was again an issue for the Minnesota State men’s hockey team Saturday.

The Mavericks outshot Michigan Tech 43-24, but fell 3-2 for a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series split.

Huskies freshman goaltender Michael-Lee Teslak made 41 saves for his fourth win of the year, and Chris Conner’s shorthanded breakaway goal at 3:46 of the third period stood up as the game-winning goal.

Conner, who also had an assist, gave the Huskies a 3-1 lead during an MSU power play, beating the Mavericks’ freshman goalie, Dan Tormey, who made 21 saves.

Minnesota State was 0 for 5 on the power play.

Mavericks defenseman Kyle Peto cut the deficit back to one goal during a delayed penalty at 11:54 of the third, but the scoring ended there.

For the second night in a row, the Huskies grabbed a 1-0 lead in the game’s opening minute.

On Friday, they scored 10 seconds into the game, Saturday, Brandon Schwartz scored 52 seconds in, putting back the rebound of a Mike Batovanja slap shot.

The score stayed that way until 1:56 of the second period when the Mavericks’ Travis Morin tied the game, getting an assist from David Backes.

That was the only goal Teslak allowed in the first 40 minutes despite seeing 33 shots in that span.

His play allowed the Huskies to take back the lead with 1:12 remaining in the second period when Tyler Skworchinski finished off a rush started by Conner.

The Mavericks (5-11-3, 3-8-3 in WCHA) will take next weekend off and return to the rink Dec. 29 with a nonconference game against Yale, the first of five consecutive games at Midwest Wireless Civic Center.

Eleven of Minnesota State’s final 17 games will be played at Mankato.

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