Box Score OMAHA, Neb. -- The Mavericks scored three goals in the second period and managed to fend off a late charge by the University of Alaska, holding on for a 4-3 victory in opening round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs Thursday night at the Qwest Center Omaha.

UNO junior goalie Jerad Kaufmann came up with some timely saves on the night, turning away 28 Nanook shots, while sophomore Jeric Agosta was named the game's first star, as his shorthanded goal late in the second period proved to be the game-winner, helping to give UNO a 1-0 series lead.

The Mavericks and Nanooks will take a day off, Friday, before resuming their best-of-three playoff series Saturday night at the Qwest Center with a 7:05 face off.

It was senior forward Brandon Scero who broke open a scoreless tie at 11:55 of the opening frame, tipping a Dan Charleston wrist shot by Alaska goalie Wylie Rogers. Scero's power-play goal put the Mavs out front, 1-0, after one period of play. Sophomore defenseman Eddie Del Grosso picked up the second assist on the score.

The Nanooks' Dustin Sather tied the game, at 1-1, 6:37 into the second period. But the Mavs turned up the pressure on offense after that, scoring the next three goals and extending their lead to 4-1.

Sophomore JJ Koehler and Junior Tomas Klempa scored even-strength markers at 8:48 and 16:24 respectively. Agosta's shorthanded goal at 17:39 gave the Mavericks the largest lead of the game, 4-1. Freshman Nick Von Bokern and junior J.P. Platisha got the assists on Koehler's goal, while Charleston picked up his second helper of the night on Klempa's score with Platisha adding the second assist. Sophomore Dan Swanson and Koehler each got assists on Agosta's marker.

UAF's Jeff Penner cut into the Maverick lead with just 40 seconds left in the second, making the score 4-2 heading into the second intermission.

It took the Nanooks little time to chip further into the UNO lead with Penner scoring his second goal of the evening 50 seconds into the final period to pull UAF within one of the Mavericks.

Kaufmann shut the door on the Nanooks, stopping the final eight shots he faced to preserve the 4-3 win.

First Period
1, UNO, Brandon Scero (Dan Charleston, Eddie Del Grosso), pp, 11:55.
Second Period
2, UAF, Dustin Penner, (Dion Knelsen, Landon Novotney), pp, 6:37.
3, UNO, JJ Koehler (Nick Von Bokern, J.P Platisha), 8:48.
4, UNO, Tomas Klemps (Dan Charleston, J.P. Platisha), 16:24.
5, UNO, Jeric Agosta (Dan Swanson, JJ Koehler), sh, 17:39.
6, UAF, Jeff Penner (Braden Walls, Ryan Hohl), pp, 19:40.
Third Period
7, UAF, Jeff Penner (Dion Knelsen, Tyler Eckford), pp, :50.

Power Play: UNO 1-3; UAF 3-6
Penalties: UNO 7/14; UAF 4/8
SOG: UNO 10-10-6—26; UAF 7-15-9--31
Saves: UNO, Jerad Kaufmann 28; UAF, Wylie Rogers 22
Attendance: 4,034