MANKATO, Minn. (Verizon Wireless Center) -- No. 4 Minnesota State University, Mankato scored three goals in the first 25:46 to put Bemidji State University into a hole to deep to dig out. The Beavers recorded a tally in the third, but it was too little too late as BSU dropped the game. 3-1.

MSU's Connor Mackey led all scorers, netting a pair of assists, while Nicholas Rivera posted a short-handed, game-winning goal and Matthias Israelsson made stops on 21 of the 22 shots he faced to power the Mavericks to the win.

Aaron Miller, a BSU sophomore, netted BSU's goal with help from Ethan Somoza and Justin Baudry.

Minnesota State needed just 4:22 to take their first lead of the game. Marc Michaelis found Charlie Gerard for his 10th goal of the season.

Trailing 1-0 to open the second period, BSU got its second power-play opportunity at the 3:05 mark of the frame. However, it was the Mavericks that struck when Rivera capped a scoring play started by Mackey and Josh French 39 seconds later to build a MSU 2-0 lead. A goal by Walker Duehr at the 5:46 mark put the Beavers down 3-0 and ended the night in net for their goaltender, Zach Driscoll.

In relief, sophomore Henry Johnson made five saves and shut down the MSU offense during the final 34:14. Despite pulling its goalie and skating an extra attacker for the last 2:30, Miller's goal was all the offense Bemidji State was able to generate.

The Mavericks had just one power-play opportunity, and it failed, but they took advantage of a short-handed goal to win the special teams battle.

BSU was 0-for-4 on the man advantage.

Bemidji State finishes the 2018-19 regular season with a 15-15-6 overall record and a 13-11-4-2 mark in WCHA play. The loss leaves the Beavers fifth in the WCHA standings, five points behind Lake Superior State University for the final home playoff berth position.

BSU will now travel to Lake Superior State for a best-of-three Western Collegiate Hockey Association Playoff opening round series March 8-9 and 10, if needed. Opening face off from Taffey Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich is set for 6:07 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3:07 p.m. Sunday, if the series is stretched to three games.

For more information on the Bemidji State athletics programs, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

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