Box Score GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota scored three goals in the third period to beat the Omaha hockey team, 4-2, on Friday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

The Mavericks fell to 10-13-2 overall and 7-6-2-1 in the NCHC, putting them in fifth place.  UND improved to 14-8-3 overall and 9-6-0-0 in conference play which ties it with St. Cloud State for first.

With the game tied 1-1 entering the third period, North Dakota took its first lead when Mark MacMillan set up Michael Parks who threw a backhander past UNO goalie Reed Peters just 35 seconds in.

UND stretched its lead to 3-1 when Brendan O'Donnell caught a loose puck in the slot, whirled and fired a shot to the top corner for his fourth goal of the season.

The Mavericks got to within one when Ryan Walters hammered a shot from the side of the net that deflected up in the air and came down onto the back of UND goalie Clarke Saunders before trickling into the net.

But with Peters pulled for an extra attacker, Rocco Grimaldi lifted a high shot from his own zone that found the Mavericks' net with 27.5 seconds to go in the game.

UNO outshot North Dakota, 33-22, and stopped all four UND power plays.  The Mavericks were 0-for-3 on the power play that included a five-minute major.

Scoreless through the first period, the Mavericks finally got on the board at 8:15 of the second.  Jake Guentzel fed the puck from behind the net to Dominic Zombo at the right wing.  He set up Brian Cooper who fired home his first collegiate goal.

North Dakota tied the game just 2:49 later.  Drake Caggiula slid the puck across the slot to MacMillan who one-timed it past Peters for his sixth goal of the season.

It was the Mavericks' first series opening loss in three trips to North Dakota.  The two teams finish the series on Saturday at 7:07 p.m.