Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The UNO hockey team earned its first win in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in its first WCHA game, beating Minnesota, 5-4 on Friday night at Mariucci Arena.  The Mavericks built a 4-0 lead only to see the Golden Gophers tie it before #Alex Hudson# delivered the game-winner late in the third.

The Mavs improve to 3-0-0 on the year and 1-0-0 in WHCA play.  The two teams play the second game of the series on Saturday night at 7:07 p.m.

Leading 4-2 in the third, the Gophers got a powerplay goal from Mike Hoeffel early and a goal off a long slap shot from Jay Barriball at 16:46 to tie the game.

But with 1:36 remaining in regulation, #Eric Olimb# stepped up in the neutral zone and started a rush with Matt Ambroz.  Ambroz then found Hudson coming late, and he beat Gopher goalie Alex Kangas with a low wrist shot for his second goal of the game.

The Mavericks jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first period.  #Rich Purslow# scored on the power play, banking the puck in off a Gopher defenseman at 9:22.

Hudson tallied his first of the game on another power play just 24 seconds later.  He broke from the left point, and Purslow set him up for a one-timer.

Matt White finished the scoring even strength when he crashed the net and converted the rebound of a shot by Purslow at 13:37.

The Mavericks build their lead to 4-0 at 8:19 of the second period when #Terry Broadhurst# set up Ambroz on a two-on-one for his team-leading fourth goal of the year.

The Gophers climbed back into the game thanks to the power play.  Michael Young got a five-minute penalty for elbowing with contact to the head and was ejected.  Not long after that, UNO was guilty of too many men on the ice, giving Minnesota a 5-on-3 for the full two minutes.

#John Faulkner# made several highlight-reel saves, but he couldn't stop Nate Condon for a point-blank chance with just 10 seconds to go in the five-on-three.

Jake Hansen then narrowed the lead to two when he scored in the last minute to make it 4-2 after two.

UNO was outshot for the first time this year, 42-35, as the Gophers piled up a 36-15 shot advantage in the last two periods.