MANKATO, Minn. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville eighth-seeded hockey team fell 3-1 to No. 4 and first-seeded Minnesota State on Friday night to open the 2019 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Postseason Tournament Quarterfinals at the Verizon Center. UAH dips to 8-27-2, while MSU rises to 28-7-2.
 
Next Time Out
- Due to inclement weather in the region, UAH and Minnesota State have moved up Saturday's start time to 4:07 p.m. at the Verizon Center.
 
Turning Point
- With UAH trailing Minnesota State 2-1 after two periods on Friday, the Mavericks cushioned their lead to 3-1 at the 5:26 mark of the third period as the hosts went on to win the matchup by the two-goal margin.
 
Scoring Breakdown
- The Mavericks went on the board first at 5:09 of the first period on a goal by Walker Duehr, but UAH goalie Mark Sinclair made 10 saves in the period to minimize the early damage.
- MSU scored at 4:48 of the second period on the power play with Marc Michaelis supplying the tally, as the Mavericks would be limited to one power-play marker during a five-minute penalty in the second.
- UAH cut the Minnesota State lead to 2-1 at 16:28 of the second when Connor Merkley sent in a rebound off a shot by Dayne Finnson from the blue line. Madison Dunn and Finnson both notched assists on the play.
- The Mavericks notched one tally during the third period at 5:26 with Michaelis scoring again on the power play to make it 3-1 MSU which went on to be the night's final score.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Mark Sinclair finished the night with 32 saves, as he collected nine or more saves in each of the three periods including a game-high 13 stops in the third.
- Sinclair's record drops to 6-18-2 in goal in his sophomore season.
- Senior Kurt Gosselin accounted for five of the Chargers 13 shots on goal on the night.
- Both Jesper Öhrvall and John Teets notched two shots on goal apiece.
- Teets, Merkley, Connor Wood and Finnson each had a +1 rating on the ice in the contest.
- Cam Knight accrued a roster-best four blocks, as UAH totaled 14 blocks on the night as a team.
 
Noteworthy
- Sinclair has posted 30 or more saves on 14 occasions, as he made his first career WCHA playoff start on Friday.
- Merkley's goal was his third of the season, and he now has at least one point in three straight games.
- Dunn is also on a three-game point streak with an assist on Friday.
- Finnson's assist was his second career helper.