The No. 7 ranked Wisconsin Badgers (4-0-0) completed the series sweep of Head Coach Mike Hastings’ former team, the No. 19 Minnesota State Mavericks (0-2-0), on the road.
“It’s going to be nice. I don’t need directions to the locker rooms,” Hastings joked about going back to Mankato and playing the team he had coached for 11 years.
Wisconsin’s goaltending and scoring depth proved to be key strengths against the Mavericks.
Wisconsin shuts out Minnesota State in Mankato
Goaltender Alexis Cournoyer started in the net for Wisconsin, his second as a Badger.
Freshman Brent Solomon opened the scoring with his first NCAA goal midway through the first when the puck snuck in from under Maverick Goaltender Lassi Lehti’s pad.
After a good passing sequence, Forward Oliver Tulk gave the Badgers a two goal lead, netting his first goal of the season. Forwards Vasily Zelenov and Bruno Idzan were given assists on Tulk’s goal.
Wisconsin ended the first period with a power play but, despite getting some good looks, were unable to capitalize.
The second period started slower with back-and-forth chances for both Wisconsin and Minnesota State. Cournoyer came up with some big saves, helping the Badgers maintain their two goal lead.
Wisconsin went on the man advantage for the second time towards the end of the second period after Reid Morich was assessed a two minute minor for cross checking. With six seconds left in the power play, Logan Hensler’s shot found its way in the back of the net.
Badgers entered the final period up by three, which was soon extended to a four goal lead after Sophomore Grady Deering scored a wraparound goal for Wisconsin.
After Lehti gave up the fourth goal of the game, Goaltender Raiden LeGall replaced him in the net for Minnesota State.
The Mavericks made a last push when Zelenov was assessed a minor penalty for boarding, but were effectively shut down by the Badgers.
Wisconsin ended the night with a 4-0 win over the Minnesota State Mavericks. Cournoyer secured his first shut out of the season with 13 saves.
The Badgers out-shot the Mavericks 35-13, dominating in their first road game of the season.
Badgers complete on-the-road sweep of the Mavericks
The Badgers mixed things up in the net, giving Sophomore Goaltender Daniel Hauser the start on Friday.
Early in the first period, Defensemen Luke Osburn was assessed a two minute minor for boarding. The Mavericks got a couple good looks but were shut down by the Badgers defense.
Freshman Chase Jette scored the first goal of the night — his first in red — off a no-look pass from Zelenov.
Wisconsin went on their first man-advantage of the night after Minnesota State was assessed a minor penalty. The Mavericks penalty kill unit looked solid, and had a good short handed chance, which was effectively stopped by Hauser.
After an interference call was made on Defenseman Dylan Compton, the Mavericks ended the first period with a man-advantage that would carry almost entirely into the second.
Minnesota State outshot the Badgers in the first period, generating the offense that they were unable to get much of the previous night.
The Badgers started the second period on the penalty kill and came out of it still up by one.
Wisconsin was able to generate good offense on their second power play of the night, but were unable to capitalize on any of their chances as LeGall made some good saves for the Mavericks.
After a series of multiple blocks and saves in front of the Wisconsin net, Minnesota State scored their first and only goal of the weekend on a power play. Maverick Defensemen Sam Court’s shot bounced off the boards, hitting the back of Hauser’s skate, before it went into the net with 12 seconds left of the man-advantage, tying the game 1-1.
Wisconsin soon took the lead back with less than a minute left in the period. Freshman Zach Wooten scored his first NCAA goal off a cross ice pass from Forward JJ Wiebusch. With the primary assist on Wooten’s goal, Wiebusch, the Wisconsin native, collected his first point as a Badger.
The Badgers extended their lead to two goals with a power play goal by Zelenov midway through the third period.
Down by two, the Mavericks pulled their goaltender for an extra skater with just over three minutes left in the game. Hauser made some big stops on the Mavericks, shutting down their attempts to close the gap.
Forward Finn Brink scored an empty net goal from neutral ice, ending the game in a 4-1 win for Wisconsin.
The Badgers freshman class has proven to be a great addition to the Wisconsin roster, producing offense and scoring depth across the lineup.
Wisconsin will get a bye weekend before they play against the 2025 NCAA Champions and currently ranked No. 6 Western Michigan Broncos (2-0-0) in an exhibition game in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Oct. 24.
Wisconsin last played Western Michigan in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off final last season where they lost 4-1. WMU is coming off a two-game sweep of Ferris State and will play their first Big Ten opponent, Notre Dame on Oct. 16.
