The Minot United girls hockey team had an opportunity to earn their spot in the state tournament next weekend, but now they will have to sweat it out for a couple days.

Minot United surrendered five unanswered goals in a 5-1 loss to Mandan at Maysa Arena on Thursday, Feb. 19, in their regular season finale. A win would have clinched the No. 8 seed at the state tournament. Mandan entered Thursday’s contest locked into the No. 7 seed.

Brynn Hanson gave Minot United (6,14-2-0 overall, 5-15-2-0) an early 1-0 lead off an assist from Ava Beda at 2:46 of the opening period.

It was all Mandan from there. The Braves tied the game late in the first period with a goal from Tessa Rebenitsch, as they outshot Minot United 20-5 in the stanza.

Mandan (9-11-0-1, 10-11-0-1) added two goals in the second and two more in the third. Brenna Bauman gave the Braves a 2-1 lead 3:49 into the second period and Adrianna Kautzman doubled the advantage with 3:11 remaining.

The Braves scored twice in a span of 1:22 to spoil a potential celebration by the home team. Kautzman added her second of the night and Abby Ross followed soon after with her first.

Mandan outshot Minot United 45-13.

Faith Seekings finished with 40 saves in net for Minot United

Minot United is battling Jamestown for the final spot in the state tournament field. Jamestown kept its hopes alive with a third-period comeback against Devils Lake in a 2-1 victory to move two points back of Minot United in the standings with one game remaining on its schedule. The Blue Jays host Grand Forks on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m. in the only game left on the regular season schedule across the state. Grand Forks won the first meeting 3-0 on Feb. 6.