Box Score Colorado College made some plays on Friday but its opponent made more.
 
Fueled by sophomore winger Jonny Brodzinski's first career hat trick along with four points apiece by Joey Benik and Kalle Kossila, No. 4-ranked St. Cloud State University prevailed in a 7-4 shootout at the World Arena.
 
SCSU's victory overshadowed a spirited comeback by the Tigers, who rallied from a three-goal deficit in the second period to pull even at 4-4 on a power-play tally by freshman defenseman Jaccob Slavin with 4:56 left in the frame.
 
But Benik's second red lighter of the contest with 10.5 seconds remaining in that middle stanza, also on a power play, put the Huskies back on top to stay. Once Benik set up Jimmy Murray at 2:48 of the third period and Brodzinski completed his three-goal night less than two minutes later, the visitors had regained control.
 
"We weren't tight enough defensively against this good of an offensive team," said CC head coach Scott Owens.  "It was a tough night for us all around. You've got to be on your "A" game against a team as good as St. Cloud, and we certainly didn't have that tonight."
 
Sophomore center Cody Bradley scored twice for the Tigers, who dropped to 6-21-6 overall and 6-12-5-1 in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference heading into Saturday's rematch and regular-season finale. Junior winger Scott Wamsganz notched a goal and an assist, while senior forward Archie Skalbeck helped set up a pair of goals.
 
With the triumph, St. Cloud State remained tied with the University of North Dakota for first place in the NCHC. Now 20-8-5 overall and 14-6-3-0 in league play, the Huskies will look to clinch at least a share of the conference crown on Saturday.
 
If CC rebounds to win and earn a series split, the teams will meet again in St. Cloud, Minn., next week in the first round of the playoffs regardless of how North Dakota fares in its season finale against Western Michigan University. UND beat the Broncos, 2-0, in Grand Forks on Friday.