Box Score Box Score

MANKATO, Minn. – The Omaha hockey team ended its 2012-13 season with a 3-1 loss to Minnesota State in game three of their best-of-three WCHA first round playoff series on Sunday night.

The Mavericks finish the season, their last in the WCHA, at 19-18-2 overall.  UNO moves to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference next season.

Minnesota State opened the scoring at 8:23 of the first period.  Chase Grant got to a loose puck behind the UNO net and fed Bryce Gervais who fired a shot past John Faulkner.

MSU doubled its lead at 13:45 of the stanza.  Taylor Herndon flipped a pass at the blue line to Max Gaede.  He raced in and slipped home a backhander for his first goal of the year.

UNO and Minnesota State slugged their way through a clutch-and-grab second period.  The Mavericks finally broke through late in the period.  Josh Archibald fought through the check of defenseman Zach Palmquist and threw a shot toward the goal from the right wing.  Dominic Zombo tipped it home for his second goal in as many games. UNO trailed just 2-1 after two.

But Matt Leitner scored on a power play early in the third period, dimming any hopes of a UNO comeback.  Minnesota State outshot UNO 35-27 for the game.

Junior Ryan Walters finished his fine season with 52 points, earning an assist on Zombo's goal.  The point total ties him with Scott Parse for second-most points in a season by a UNO player.

The game was also the end of the careers of UNO's three seniors – Faulkner, Brent Gwidt and Bryce Aneloski.