Box Score KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Ryan Massa made 18 saves to backstop the Omaha hockey team to a 3-0 win over Western Michigan on Saturday night at Lawson Arena.

The Mavericks swept the Broncos in their first NCHC series of the season and improved to 3-1-0 on the year and 2-0-0-0 in the NCHC while Western Michigan dipped to 1-3-0 overall and 0-2-0-0 in the conference.

The Mavericks appeared to have taken the lead less than three minutes into the game off a scramble in the Western Michigan crease, but goalie Frank Slubowski stopped the puck at the goal line, a play that was upheld after video review.

The scoreless tie didn't last much longer.  At 3:34, Justin Parizek sent Jake Guentzel racing up the left wing.  Guentzel fired a shot from the top of the faceoff circle that beat Slobowski to the top corner over his glove hand.  It was Guentzel's team-leading fourth goal of the year and NCAA-leading eighth point.  Joel Messner also earned an assist on the goal, his first collegiate point.

The Mavericks doubled their lead at 10:48 of the second period.  Aaron Pearce fought off a backchecker to hit Jono Davis with a pass, starting a 2-on-1 with Dominic Zombo.  Davis flipped a pass across that Zombo backhanded home for his second goal of the season.

The Mavericks were limited to just four shots in the third period but allowed just five to the Broncos.  They sealed the win when Zombo fired into an empty net off a hard-working assist from Austin Ortega.

Massa's shutout was the third of his career.  Guentzel's goal and the assist by Ortega stretched their season-opening scoring streak to four games.

Following a week off, the Mavericks make their first-ever trip to Cornell of the ECAC for games on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 31 – Nov. 1.