A third period game-tying goal from Jesse Jacques wasn't enough as the No. 6 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the No. 1 Minnesota State Mavericks on Thursday evening in Mankato, Minn. The non-conference loss drops the Bulldogs to 11-7-1 overall on the season. 

The tally is Jacques's third goal over the past two games and fifth goal of the season. Both Matt Anderson and Koby Bender noted assists on the third period marker. Ryan Fanti got the start in net for UMD and made 28 saves on the night, including a point-blank save with just under two minutes remaining in regulation. 

"I thought it was a good game," said Head Coach Scott Sandelin. "I thought they came out strong with a lot of early pressure, and I thought we weathered it. It was a good battle between two good teams and they made a play at the end."

Neither team would find the back of the net through the first twelve minutes of play. With 8:19 remaining in the first, a tripping penalty to Louie Roehl at the UMD blueline gave Minnesota State the first man-advantage of the evening. While on the power play, Mavericks forward Julian Napravnik would ring the iron on a wrist shot from the left-wing circle. Shot blocks from Tanner Laderoute, Luke Loheit, and Wyatt Kaiser helped UMD kill off the power play opportunity. Just two minutes later, a Mankato boarding penalty gave the Bulldogs a power play of their own. Cates would make a cross-zone pass to Roth for an open one-timer in the Mavericks slot, but a good poke spoiled the open look. UMD came up empty on their first power play of the night. The two sides skated into the first intermission nodded at zero, and the Mavericks with a 7-6 shot advantage. 
 
Mankato opened the scoring just five minutes into the second period. A failed wrap-around attempt landed right on the stick of Connor Gregga who beat Fanti to give the Mavericks a 1-0 advantage. Seven minutes later, Fanti would make a massive blocker save off a dangerous Minnesota State 2-on-1 opportunity, keeping it at a one goal deficit. Within the final minute of play in the second, Fanti would come up big again with a glove save off an MSU partial breakaway. The chance would lead to a Wyatt Kaiser cross-checking penalty. Mankato took a power play and the 1-0 lead into the third period. 
 
The Bulldogs would come out of the intermission and finish off their second successful penalty kill of the night. Following the penalty, Blake Biondi would note multiple wrist shot opportunities, both of which were stopped by Dryden McKay. A few minutes later, a long shift in the Mankato end would lead to a scoring opportunity for UMD. Deep in the MSU zone, Bender punched the puck back to Anderson at the left point, who immediately found Jacques open in the slot. Jacques made a quick move to the forehand and buried a wrister low glove side past McKay. The goal is Jacques's third marker in the last two games and tied the game with 13 minutes left to play. With just over three minutes remaining, Dominic James found himself wide open in the slot following an MSU defensive turnover. James let a snapshot go but was denied by McKay. With just under two minutes to play, Fanti made another highlight stop to send the game into overtime. 
 
In the extra frame, Roth would make a beautiful move to get around a Mankato defender but was stopped by the glove of McKay. On the ensuing rush, Cade Borchardt broke free and beat Fanti to seal a 2-1 overtime win for Minnesota State. 
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs and Mavericks will do battle in game two of the home-and-home on Saturday, Jan. 1 in Duluth. Puck drop from AMSOIL Arena is set for 6:07 PM.