Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. – Matt Ambroz scored two goals, and #John Faulkner# stopped 27 shots to help the UNO Mavericks to a 4-3 win over seventh-ranked Wisconsin on Saturday night at the Qwest Center.  The Mavericks swept the two-game series and moved into a tie for third place in the WCHA.

The win was the 300th in the sterling career of UNO head coach #Dean Blais# who is now 300-141-41 in more than 11 seasons as a head coach.

UNO is now 18-10-2 overall and 14-6-2 in the WCHA.  The Mavericks now have 30 points, putting them in a tie with Minnesota Duluth.  The Badgers fell to 19-10-3 overall and 11-9-2 in the league, good for fifth place.  The Mavs finished off their six-game homestand with a record of 5-1-0.

The Mavericks opened the scoring nearly halfway through the first period.  #Zahn Raubenheimer was checked at center ice but was able to kick the puck forward to Ryan Walters#.  Walters raced down the right wing before flinging a pass across to #Brock Montpetit# who one-timed home his ninth goal of the year.

Wisconsin tied the game on a goal by Jake Gardiner at 19:32.  The Badgers appeared to have taken the lead just 20 seconds later, but the referees waved off the goal, saying the puck had been played by a high stick.

UNO regained the lead at 10:46 of the second period when #Johnnie Searfoss# sped down the left wing and fired a sharp-angle shot.  It ricocheted off goalie Scott Gudmandson to Matt Ambroz who knocked in his team-leading 15th goal of the year.

The Mavs stretched their lead to 3-1 on a power play later in the period.  #Bryce Aneloski# whistled a shot through traffic.  Alex Hudson scooped up the rebound and potted his 10th goal of the year.

Ambroz scored the eventual game winner when he broke down the right wing on an odd-man rush with Searfoss.  He fired home the pass to make it 4-1 just 3:55 into the third.

Wisconsin got powerplay goals from Jordy Murray and Craig smith in the late going but couldn't get the equalizer.  The weekend marks just the third time the Badgers have been swept in a weekend series this season.

Faulkner earned his career-best 17th win of the year while Gudmandson took the loss with 22 saves.

The Mavericks are on the road next weekend when they visit the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18 and 19.