MANKATO, Minn. – No. 5 North Dakota suffered its first loss of the 2024-25 season, dropping a 3-0 decision to No. 20 Minnesota State on Saturday night from the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, Minn.
UND (2-1-0) was stifled by Minnesota State (3-3-0) goaltender Alex Tracy, as the junior finished with 27 saves to record his fourth shutout of his career and first of the year.
It was a similar start for both teams as yesterday’s contest, with each side getting sustained shifts and chances in the offensive zone, but once again it was the Mavericks who took the early lead when Adam Eisele snapped a shot past Hedquist at 13:03 of the first to give the hosts a 1-0 lead at the intermission.
The similarities to Friday night continued in the middle stanza, with MSU doubling its lead near the midway point of the frame on Josh Groll’s third goal of the weekend to make it 2-0 Mavericks. UND closed the period with a good push, but once again headed to the intermission trailing by a pair.
NoDak pushed for the tying goals in the third, but Tracy held off the pressure and secured the series split with a 3-0 victory following a Brian Carrabes empty netter in the final two minutes.
North Dakota returns home to welcome another ranked foe Boston University for a series beginning on Friday night at 7:07 p.m. from Ralph Engelstad Arena.
