Box Score OMAHA, Neb. – Freshman goalie Evan Weninger made 45 saves to help the No. 8 Omaha hockey team beat No. 6/7 Minnesota Duluth, 4-2, on Friday night for its first NCHC win of the season.

Austin Ortega scored his NCAA-leading fifth game-winning goal as the Mavericks improved to 7-2-0 overall and 1-2-0-0 in the NCHC.  Minnesota Duluth fell to 3-3-2 overall and 0-1-0-0 in the conference.

The Mavericks grabbed the lead just 24 seconds into the game when Jake Guentzel set up Brian Cooper for a one-timer that beat goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo through the five hole.

Fredrik Olofsson doubled UNO's lead late in the period when he steered home a shot by Grant Gallo.  Gallo's point shot changed direction after hitting a defender, and Olofsson touched the slow-moving puck past Kaskisuo for his third goal of the season.

Minnesota Duluth drew to within one goal midway through the second period when Austin Farley knocked a rebound past Weninger during a power play.

But the Mavericks scored their own power play goal later in the period.  With UMD's Blake Young off for a five minute interference major, Ian Brady's centering pass was steered toward the net by Steven Spinner.  The puck deflected into the net off the skate of Ortega who picked up his NCAA-leading eighth goal of the season.

UMD again drew to within one early in the third when Kyle Osterberg swept in a rebound of Willie Corrin's shot with one second remaining on a power play.

The Bulldogs outshot the Mavericks 19-6 in the third period, but Weninger was at his best in the final stanza and got help from his teammates who blocked 17 shots, seven of them by Tyler Vesel.

Jake Randolph added an empty net goal at 18:47 to seal the win.

Weninger tied Dan Ellis for sixth all-time in UNO history for saves in a game.  

With two assists, Guentzel extended his point-scoring streak to seven games (3-9-12) while Parizek stretched his to six games (2-5-7).

The two teams meet again on Saturday at 7:07 p.m.