MANKATO, Minn. (Interstat) — Maria Mikaelyan recorded a hat trick and Saint Cloud State used a five-goal run to beat host Minnesota State 5-2 in a women’s NCAA Division I hockey game on Friday at Verizon Wireless Center. The Huskies improved to 3-0, while the Mavericks dropped to 2-1. Attendance was 327. Mikaelyan, a 5-foot-8 right wing from Moscow, Russia, who previously played for North York Storm, finished with three goals, seven shots on goal and two hits for Saint Cloud State.

Saint Cloud State opened the scoring at 3:29 of the first period when Mikaelyan scored from Alice Sauriol and Sofianna Sundelin. Anna Sviridova made it 2-0 at 10:27 from Laura Zimmermann and Regan Bulger. Mikaelyan struck again at 13:06 from Sauriol to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead. Minnesota State’s Mika Cichosz was called for hooking at 3:23 and body checking at 9:59, while Saint Cloud State’s Sophie Olson received a holding penalty at 18:45.

The Huskies extended their lead in the second period. Hannele Tarkiainen scored at 25:29 from Raili Mustonen to make it 4-0. Mikaelyan completed her hat trick at 27:13 from Siiri Yrjölä and Sundelin, pushing the lead to 5-0. Minnesota State responded with two goals later in the period. Ayla Puppe scored at 28:29 from Toriana Anderson, and Bella Shipley scored at 37:59 from Audrey Garton and Zoe Lopez to cut the deficit to 5-2. The Mavericks’ Mercury Bischoff was penalized for tripping at 25:35, and Saint Cloud State’s Julianne Labbé went off for tripping at 27:46.

Saint Cloud State goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö made 10 saves on 12 shots to earn the win. The Huskies held Minnesota State without a goal in the third period. The Mavericks’ Makayla Moran was called for goaltender interference at 50:20, and Saint Cloud State’s Labbé received an interference penalty at 51:41. Minnesota State’s Lila Deis was whistled for slashing at 59:14. Neither team scored in the final period. Saint Cloud State led 3-0 after the first period and 5-2 after the second.

Sundelin, a 5-foot-7 center who previously played for Kuortane Urheiluopisto, finished with two assists and five shots on goal for the Huskies. Sviridova, a 5-foot-6 defender who previously played for Agidel Ufa, had one goal, two shots and one hit. Sauriol, a 5-foot-5 left wing who previously played for Stanstead College, added two assists and one shot. For Minnesota State, Shipley, a 5-foot-6 right wing who previously played for Maple Grove, had one goal and one shot. Puppe, a 5-foot-8 center who previously played for Northfield High School, had one goal, two shots and one hit. Tarkiainen, a 5-foot-7 defender who previously played for Team Kuortane, scored one goal on one shot. Garton, a 5-foot-6 center who previously played for Holy Angels, recorded one assist. Zimmermann, a 5-foot-4 center who previously played for Ev Bomo Thun, contributed one assist and three shots.

Saint Cloud State finished with five goals from four different scorers. Mikaelyan had three, Sviridova and Tarkiainen each added one. Minnesota State got goals from Puppe and Shipley. The Huskies also received assists from Sundelin, Sauriol, Zimmermann, Bulger, Mustonen and Yrjölä. The result marked a strong start for Saint Cloud State, which had swept Connecticut in its first two games of the season. Minnesota State had opened with two wins over RPI before the loss. The teams are scheduled to meet again in the second game of the series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Minnesota State 3, Saint Cloud State 2, and Interstat’s ELO system had projected Minnesota State with a 51.3 percent probability to win.