Box Score Box Score

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Omaha hockey team earned its fifth series sweep of the season, beating Bemidji State, 2-1, on Saturday night at the Sanford Center.  

Dominic Zombo scored early in the second period, and the Mavericks clamped down on the Beavers for the rest of the game for their first-ever sweep head-to-head.

The Mavs improved to 15-9-2 overall and 11-5-2 in the WCHA, putting them in a tie with Minnesota for second.  The Beavers fell to 5-14-5 overall and 4-10-4 in the conference.  UNO earned its first season series win over BSU in three years of WCHA play, 2-1-1.

For the second night in a row, the Beavers struck first at 7:48.  Jordan George forced a turnover at the UNO blue line and got the puck on goal.  Aaron McLeod crashed the net and knocked the puck past John Faulkner.  The play was originally ruled no goal, but the call was reversed after a lengthy video review.

UNO countered less than three minutes later.  Ryan Walters' check at center ice freed up the puck.  He skated back down the left wing and fed the puck across to Josh Archibald who tapped in his 14th goal of the year.  It was Archibald's ninth point and fifth goal in eight games against Bemidji State.

The Mavericks took their first lead of the game at 1:56 of the second period.  Johnnie Searfoss brought the puck up the right wing and waited for Zombo before threading a pass through traffic that Zombo slammed home for his eighth goal of the year.

Faulkner picked up his 13th win of the year, making 22 saves.  He is now just two wins from tying Dan Ellis for most career wins at UNO (53).  Mathieu Dugas, in his first game against UNO, made 24 saves in the losing effort.

Walters' assist on the first goal gives him points in 10 straight games (7-8-15) while Archibald has points in six straight (7-1-8).

The Mavericks had only one power play in the game and had just two all weekend.