Box Score GRAND FORKS, N.D. – No. 2 North Dakota held off a furious push by the Omaha hockey team to pick up a 3-2 win on Saturday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

The loss was the Mavericks' first on the road this year and dropped them to 7-3-2 overall and 3-2-1-1 in the NCHC, putting them in fourth place.  UND improved to 10-3-1 overall and 5-2-1-0 in the conference, good for second.

Trailing 3-1 entering the third period, the Mavericks peppered UND goalie Zane McIntyre with 15 shots.  They finally broke through when Grant Gallo jammed home the rebound of a shot by Brian O'Rourke for his first collegiate goal at 13:48.

But McIntyre held his ground the rest of the way to earn the win and improve to 10-3-2.

North Dakota went on the power play just 38 seconds into the game when Austin Ortega was hit with a contact to the head penalty.  Defenseman Jordan Schmaltz made the Mavericks pay when he scored from the slot during the man advantage just 2:02 into the game.  It was the first powerplay goal surrendered by the Mavericks in conference play.

UND doubled its lead later when Mark MacMillan got free in the slot for a backhander that was deflected past Ryan Massa at 12:36.

The Mavericks finally got on the board late in the second period.  Tyler Vesel outworked two UND players behind the net to center the puck to Jake Randolph.  He banged home his second goal of the year at 15:52 to make it 2-1.

But North Dakota countered with its NCAA-leading eighth shorthanded goal, a laser from Stephane Pattyn, to regain the two-goal advantage.

Massa finished with 20 saves as UNO outshot North Dakota 34-23.  He is now 6-2-2 for the season.

The Mavericks continue their four-game road trip at No. 5/6 Miami on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6.