UAH’s offense goes cold in 2-1 loss at Minnesota State

The Chargers mustered only nine shots on goal, and allowed two third-period scores to lose 2-1 at No. 20 Minnesota State in Mankato on Friday.

BOX SCORE

UAH (3-10-2 overall, 2-9-2 WCHA) saw its winless streak extended to nine games, while the WCHA-leading Mavericks (9-6-4 overall, 8-1-4 WCHA) are unbeaten in their last eight.

UAH lead 1-0 at 12:06 of the first period when Chad Brears tipped a Max McHugh shot from near the left point, beating Maverick goaltender Jason Pawloski. From that point on, the Chargers only had four shots on goal the rest of the game. Brennan Saulnier got the secondary assist.

Brears extended a point-scoring streak of five games. It was also his fourth goal in five games, giving the senior a total of six on the season.

MSU had many chances to tie the game partially thanks to three power plays in the first period. The Mavericks’ best chance game when UAH goaltender Carmine Guerriero stopped a Max Coatta shot, and Brett Knowles’s rebound attempt bounced over Guerriero’s shoulder and on top of the net.

The goaltenders Guerriero and Pawloski did not see many pucks in the second period.

Despite four power plays in the period, including 1:11 of two-man advantage after Saulnier went flying on being kneed by C.J. Franklin, the Chargers only mustered two shots on goal. UAH was 0-for-6 on the power play.

The Mavericks weren’t much better, only getting seven shots on goal in the second period. Minnesota State dominated the third period, however, to take control and win the game. Michael Huntebrinker skated right down the middle and beat Guerriero at the 1:06 mark to tie the game.

Then with 3:40 left, right after UAH killed a Maverick power play, a turnover leads to an odd-man rush for MSU. Franklin sent the puck ahead to Blueger, who beat Guerriero for an MSU 2-1 lead.

It was a downer for the Chargers to allow the winning goal right after they went 6-for-6 on the penalty kill in the game. Over the last five games, UAH has killed 18 straight penalties.

The Mavericks outshot the Chargers 13-1 in the third period, leading to a 32-9 advantage for the game.

Guerriero finished with 30 saves. Pawloski needed to make only eight.

Game two of the series is Saturday night at 7:07 p.m.