Joseph, Stevenson Too Much for Pioneers

Jan. 18, 2003

DENVER - Shane Joseph scored two goals and Grant Stevenson added three assists as the Minnesota State Mavericks defeated the No. 6 Denver Pioneers, 4-2, in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play tonight at Magness Arena.

Minnesota State, which tied Denver last night 3-3, earns three WCHA points and improves its record to 10-7-7 overall and 8-5-5 in the WCHA (third place). Denver falls to 15-7-4 and 6-6-4 in conference play.

"We played much better tonight than we did last night," said head coach George Gwozdecky. "The intensity and effort was there, but we were just not able to finish around the net. Mankato did not have a lot of chances, but they took full advantage of the ones they did have."

Minnesota State scored first at 6:33 of the first period when Joseph received a beautiful behind-the-back pass from Dana Sorensen and surprised Denver senior goaltender Wade Dubielewicz (Invermere, B.C.) with a quick wrist shot for his team-leading 19th goal.

Senior Kevin Doell (Saskatoon, Sask.) tied the game for Denver at 11:45 of the first period with his seventh power-play goal of the season. Doell, the team's leading scorer, extended his point streak to six games with his 13th goal of the season.

Denver took its only lead of the game at 2-1 when junior Max Bull (Faribault, Minn.) scored on a four-on-four unassisted breakaway goal at 13:15 of the first period, but Minnesota State's B.J. Abel quickly tied the score at 2-2 with a big blast from the left faceoff circle.

Minnesota State regained the lead just 1:25 into the second period when Cole Bassett scored on the power play from the low slot. Stevenson picked up his second assist of the game and 25th of the season on the play. Minnesota State added a late second period goal by Joseph to take a 4-2 lead. Stevenson earned his third assist of the game with a great pass to the high-scoring Joseph, who leads the WCHA in scoring.

Minnesota State was outshot 42-21, but won the game and stayed unbeaten in its last nine games (6-0-3). Jason Jenson made 40 saves to earn the win, while Dubielewicz (17 saves) took the loss for Denver.

Denver returns to WCHA action on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 with a two-game series against Wisconsin at Magness Arena.

GAME #26 - vs. Minnesota State
at Denver, Colo. (Magness Arena)
	                        1-2-3--F
Minnesota State (10-7-7, 8-5-5)	2-2-0--4
# 6 Denver (15-7-4, 6-6-4)	2-0-0--2

SCORING SUMMARY:
FIRST PERIOD
1. MSU, Shane Joseph 19 (Dana Sorenson 3, Grant Stevenson 24) 6:38;
2. DEN, Kevin Doell 13 (Aaron MacKenzie 14, Connor James 14) PPG, 11:45;
3. DEN, Max Bull 4 (unassisted) 13:15;
4. MSU, B.J. Abel 4 (Steven Johns 14, Shane Joseph 21) PPG, 17:48.
SECOND PERIOD
5. MSU, Cole Bassett 9 (Stevenson 25, Brock Becker 7) PPG, 1:25;
6. MSU, Joseph 20 (Stevenson 26) 19:47.
THIRD PERIOD
7. No Scoring.

SHOTS: Minnesota State 6-13-2--21, Denver 17-12-13--42;
SAVES: Jensen (MSU) 15-12-13--40, Dubielewicz (DEN) 4-11-2--17.
POWER PLAY: Minnesota State 2-6, Denver 1-7.
Referee: Mike Schmitt. Linesmen: Scott Staudte, Greg Rockenback

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