LYNCHBURG, VA -- The #2 Minot State Beavers men's hockey team closed out their eastern road trip in commanding fashion on Saturday night, defeating #8 Liberty University 4-1 to complete a dominant weekend sweep. With the win, the Beavers improve to 14-1-1, while Liberty falls to 15-6-0.
 
Coming off a 5-0 shutout victory in game one, Minot State wasted no time setting the tone again in game two. Just 2:04 into the opening period, Sheldin Howard put the Beavers on the board, finishing a setup from Matthew Yakubowski. Minot State added to its lead late in the frame when Logan Cyca buried a goal at 16:50 into the period, assisted by Jay Buchholz and Joey Moffatt, sending the Beavers into the first intermission up 2-0.
 
The Beavers kept rolling early in the second. On a power play just 54 seconds into the period, Colby Joseph extended the lead to 3-0, with assists going to Yakubowski and Moffatt. Minot State continued to apply pressure, and at 7:53 into the frame, Brett Tataryn buried one to make it 4-0. The Beavers controlled the pace throughout the frame and carried a four-goal cushion into the final period.
 
Liberty broke the shutout at 3:02 into the third period, but that would be all they could muster. Minot State's defensive structure held firm, and goaltender William Dyke once again delivered an excellent performance, stopping 25 of 26 shots to earn his 11th win of the season.
 
The Beavers outshot the Flames 37-26 and finished 1-for-3 on the power play while holding Liberty scoreless on two man-advantage opportunities.
 
Minot State will now return to North Dakota and shift focus to their next matchup, a road contest against the University of Jamestown on Wednesday, December 10, with puck drop set for 7:00 pm.