The Lindenwood women's hockey team defeated the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks 3-1 on Monday afternoon from the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, Minn.

For the second day in a row, the Mavericks drew first blood, scoring the first goal of the game. Just 3:09 into the opening period, Elin Johansson sent Minnesota State-Manakato ahead with a one-timer wrist shot from atop the Lindenwood crease. The Lady Lions trailed for the majority of the period until the 18:19 mark, when Shannon Morris-Reade centered a pass near the front of the Mavericks goal that was handled and sent into the back of the net by Shara Jasper. For Jasper, the goal was her second score in as many games. Morris-Reade and Sarah Bobrowski each tallied their 11th assists of the season on the goal. The Lady Lions and Mavericks headed into the first period intermission even 1-1.

Early on in the second period, the Lady Lions found themselves on the wrong side of two consecutive penalties, creating a two skater advantage for the Mavericks for 1:43. The Lindenwood penalty-kill was up for the challenge and successfully killed off both penalties. The Lady Lions would end the period killing off all five penalties against during the 20 minute span, which would end with neither team scoring a goal and the score remaining 1-1.

Lindenwood and Minnesota State-Mankato skated even for almost all of the third period, and the game seemed destined for overtime. However with the Lady Lions on the power play and 1:38 remaining in the period, Carrie Atkinson took a shot from near the top of the offensive zone that was re-deflected by Emily Gunderson into the back of the net, giving Lindenwood a 2-1 lead. For Gunderson, the eventual game-winning goal was her second score of the season. Assisting on the play were Atkinson and Tae Otte, who tallied their third and eighth assists, respectively. Just 38 seconds later, Jasper once again lit the lamp and provided an insurance goal for Lindenwood, bringing the score to its final of 3-1. Carla Goodwin picked up her second assist of the season on Jasper's second goal of the game, bringing her team-leading goal total to 15. Bobrowski was also credited with a helper, boosting her into the team lead in assists with 12.

Between the pipes for the Lady Lions, Nicole Hensley turned in 17 saves while allowing just the one goal against en route to her fourth victory of the season. Sarah Bobrowski led the Lady Lions in shots for the game with four. For the game, the Lady Lions held the advantage in shots 23-18. Lindenwood was 1-4 while on the power play, and successfully killed off all five penalties against.

Following the victory, the Lady Lions improve their season record to 5-13-4. With the loss, the Mavericks see their season record move to 3-16-1. Up next for Lindenwood is a two-game non-conference matchup with the No. 5 ranked Bemidji State Beavers on Jan. 6-7. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. on both days from Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn.