Mavericks 4, Engineers 3 (OT)

Pat Christman/The Free Press

Freddy's three thoughts of the game ...

1. Purple Hayes: Eriah Hayes scored the game-winning goal just 69 seconds into overtime, showing quick reaction to swat at the puck that squirted to him on Matt Leitner's faceoff win. It was the second big goal Hayes, the senior forward and co-captain, has scored already this short season. His late goal a week earlier at Alabama Huntsville helped the Mavericks salvage a tie. Minnesota State is 2-0-2, yet to lose so far in the Mike Hastings era. The Mavericks have played three straight overtime games (as has RPI).

2. Late arriving? No worries: For the second straight game, the Mavericks had a rather ugly second period and were trailing going into the third period. The Engineers scored a power-play goal in each of the first two periods and led 2-0. MSU goalie Phil Cook (30 saves total, 17 in the second period) continued his more-than-solid play to keep it that close. But Minnesota awoke in the third, as they did on Friday, as Johnny McInnis and Eli Zuck tied the game with goals in the first 3:39. Freshman center Dylan Margonari (pictured) gave the Mavericks a 3-2 lead with 5:05 remaining in the game with a fabulous goal (hoping to find video of that one soon), but it didn't stand as the game-winner, as RPI's Matt Neal tied the game with 1:36 remaining and an extra attacker on the ice.

3. As advertised: The Mavericks freshman class sure looks the part already. Margonari is a bull out on the ice, and it's easy to see why Hastings has him centering one of the top two lines. Teddy Blueger had an important faceoff win that led to McInnis' goal (he has a goal and two assists on the year), while defenseman Jon Jutzi's took the shot that McInnis redirected. Bryce Gervais had the big game-tying goal on Friday, and Brett Knowles had an assist that night. We'll find out next week how the young fellas can hang in the WCHA.

Deep thought: Another one for the MSU women's team, which defeated Minnesota Duluth 1-0 on a 28-save performance by goaltender Danielle Butters. Butters has played in every game this season and has a .942 save percentage and a 1.84 goals-against average. Tracy McCann scored the game-winning goal at 11:34 of the third period. She leads MSU in scoring with six goals and five assists in eight games. The Mavericks have their first four-game unbeaten streak since early in the 2010 season. Minnesota State is now 4-2-2 (2-2-2 in the WCHA).

Read The Free Press' game story here.

Around the WCHA: Minnesota 3, Michigan Tech 2 ... Alaska Anchorage 6, Merrimack 3 ... St. Cloud State 4, Alabama Huntsville 0 ... Bemidji State 5, Lake Superior 0 ... Northern Michigan 2, Nebraska Omaha 1 ... Denver 5, Air Force 2 ... UMass-Lowell 3, Colorado College 1 ... North Dakota at Alaska (late)

Up next: MSU opens WCHA play at St. Cloud State Friday and Saturday.