MINNEAPOLIS - The Long Island University men's ice hockey team (5-5-0) defeated the University of Minnesota (4-8-1, 2-2-0 Big Ten), 6-2, on Friday night in front of a crowd of 8,708 fans at 3M Arena at Mariucci to earn its fourth consecutive victory. Six different Sharks scored goals in the program's first-ever meeting with the five-time national champions.

Trailing 1-0 in the first period, Brett Rylance scored his fifth goal of the season at 11:52 of the first, assisted by Dylan Kinch and Blake Matheson, tying the game and sparking a barrage of four straight LIU goals.

Brennan Nelson capped the first period with a goal at the 17:59 mark, assisted by Nick Bernardo and Chad Muller, giving the Sharks a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.

In the second period, Sixten Jennersjö scored a power play goal after feeds from Trent Powell and Kinch, putting LIU up 3-1.

To open the third period, an unassisted goal by Muller at 3:09 stretched the lead to 4-1.

After Minnesota scored to make it a 4-2 game, LIU closed with a pair of power play goals to seal the victory. Kinch scored with 3:50 remaining on assists from Jennersjö and Bernardo, giving the Sharks a 5-2 lead on this team-leading sixth goal of the season. Bernardo tacked the on the final goal with less than two minutes to play, assisted by Jennersjö and Powell.

Jennersjö, Kinch, and Bernardo led all skaters with three points apiece.

The Golden Gophers outshot the Sharks, 38-22, but LIU was bolstered by goalie Daniel Duris who made 36 saves.

LIU went 3-for-4 on the power play and held Minnesota 0-for-4 on power play chances.

The Sharks return to action on Saturday night in the final game of this weekend's pair versus the Golden Gophers. Puck drop in Minneapolis is scheduled for 6 p.m.