Minnesota State coming off loss and tie -- just like Gophers

Minnesota State Mankato had a rough weekend, similar to the Gophers' -- except the Mavericks played at home.

The Mavericks lost by one goal on Friday to Alaska Anchorage and tied the Seawolves on Saturday.

To get a 5-5 tie, Minnesota State, which plays the Gophers at Mariucci Arena this coming weekend, had to rally from four goals down.

UAA led 2-1 after one period, then opened a 5-1 lead on goals by Jordan Kwas, Mickey Spencer and Curtis Leinweber, according to a Minnesota State news release. After the fifth goal, Minnesota State replaced starting goalie Phil Cook -- who stopped only two of seven shots -- and started scoring goals..

Eriah Hayes and freshman J.P. Lafontaine scored power-play goals at 11:30 and 13:51 to cut the Seawolves' lead to 5-3. Hayes has four goals and four assists in a six-game points streak/

Lafontaine's second goal of the game -- and seventh of the season -- came on another power play at 2:15 of the third period. Senior defenseman Joe Schiller's shot from the point beat UAA goalie Rob Gunderson at 10:25 to tie the score. It was Schiller's first goal of the season.

The overtime was scoreless.

Freshman goalie Evan Karambelas, who replaced Cook midway through the second period, stopped all six shots he faced in his first college game.

Now 3-10-1 overall, 2-7-1 WCHA, Minnesota State continues WCHA action with a road series at the University of Minnesota on Friday and Saturday. Alaska Anchorage is now 5-7-2 overall, 2-7-1 WCHA.

UAA WINS SEESAW GAME

On Friday, Hayes gave Minnesota State a 1-0 lead in the first minute but UAA won 5-4. Jordan Kwas' power-play goal for the Seawolves with 1:40 left in the opening period tied the score at 1-1.

The score was 3-3 after two periods. Senior forward Justin Jokinen of the Mavericks scored a short-handed goal and an unassisted goal. In between, the Seawolves got goals from Brett Cameron on a breakaway and defenseman Curtis Leinweber on a give-and-go.

MAVERICKS SWEPT GOPHERS LAST SEASON

Minnesota State beat the Gophers 3-2 and 2-1 on Dec. 3 and 4 in Mankato last season. And, going back two more season, the Mavericks have won five of the past six meetings.