MANKATO, Minn. - No. 9 Minnesota State scored four goals in the second period to pick up a 5-2 win over the Michigan Tech hockey team in front of a crowd of 4,201 at the Alltel Center.

"We were not sharp in front of our goal tonight," said head coach Jamie Russell. "We really missed senior captain Jimmy Kerr and assistant captain John Schwarz tonight."

Sophomore Trevor Bruess opened the scoring with his short handed goal at 6:36 of the first period. Junior Brian Kilburg and freshman Kurt Davis picked up assists on the goal.

Junior Malcolm Gwilliam narrowly missed an opportunity two minutes later to even the score when his shot rang off the pipe.

The Mavericks used a 3-on-1 opportunity to extended their lead to 2-0. Senior Joel Hanson scored his ninth goal of the season off assists by Bruess and freshman Kurt Davis.

Gwilliam would eventually find the net for the Huskies with a blast high over the glove of junior Mike Zacharias at 10:21 of the second period. Junior Geoff Kinrade and senior Peter Rouleau were each credited with an assist on the power play goal.

After a pair of goals by junior Mick Berge, freshman Andrew Sackrison wrapped up the scoring in the second period with an even strength goal at 15:45. He was assisted by sophomore Geoff Irwin and sophomore Jason Wiley.

Senior Mark Malekoff scored his first goal of the season and the second of his career with a shot on net from just inside the blueline. His unassisted goal at 14:59 was the lone goal of the third period.

The Mavericks (18-13-4, 12-11-4) outshot the Huskies (12-18-5, 8-15-4), 41-33, and each team finished 1-6 on the power play.

Zacharias (17-10-4) made 31 saves on 33 shots in the Maverick win.

Junior Michael-Lee Teslak (6-9-4) made 23 saves and gave up all five goals in two periods of work for the Huskies. Junior Rob Nolan also made 13 saves in one period of work.

The two teams will wrap up the series tomorrow (March 8) at 7:07 p.m.