Elaine Topolnisky scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and the game winner in the third as Minnesota State (7-12-3) extended its unbeaten streak to six games with a 5-3 win over Wayne State (5-12-0).
The Warriors scored more than two goals in a game for the first time since November 24, but still dropped their seventh consecutive game.
The Mavericks scored the only goal of the first period for the second consecutive day — a poor omen for the Warriors, now 0-10-0 when allowing the first goal. MSU’s Katie Hainrich scored from in close off her own rebound at the seven-minute mark.
Minnesota State increased its lead just 35 seconds into the middle stanza as Nicole Magnuson scored her first collegiate goal during a Maverick power play but the Warriors battled back to cut the deficit to one goal at 2-1 as Jessica Haydahl scored her second collegiate goal from in close off an assist from Kim Spaulding at 1:01 the period.
Wayne State then tied the game at 9:59 as Naomi Kupferstein scored from just outside the crease off assists from Krissy Langley and Kelly Zamora just eight seconds after MSU had killed a penalty.
Minnesota State regained the lead with 3:12 left in the second period on Topolnisky’s first goal of the season off a pass from Amanda Osborn after MSU goaltender Shari Vogt started the scoring play with a long pass.
Topolnisky then scored the game-winning goal 8:13 into the third period on a Maverick power play. Lindsay McCulloch kept the puck in at the blue line setting up Topolnisky’s second goal of the game.
The Warriors made it a one-goal affair with 4:53 remaining in the contest as freshman defenseman Kristi Thome blasted in her first collegiate goal from the high slot during a four-on-four situation. Thome’s shot came after Zamora sent her a pass from behind the goal line.
The Mavericks completed the scoring with an empty-net goal by Osborn, her team-leading 10th goal of the season, with 1:26 left in the game.
Wayne State netminder Tina Thibideau made 26 saves including 12 in the third period. Vogt had 14 saves for Minnesota State, which scored two power-play goals in seven chances while stopping all seven Wayne State man-advantage opportunities.
The Warriors are on the road next weekend for a two-game series at Vermont; the Mavericks are idle until Jan. 25-26 when they will host No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth.
