Box Score OMAHA, Neb. – Tyler Vesel scored two goals, and Austin Ortega had a goal and an assist to push the Omaha hockey team past No. 5 UMass Lowell, 5-1, on Friday night at Baxter Arena.

The Mavericks won for the first time on home ice since Feb. 13 of last season to improve to 3-1-1 this season while the River Hawks dipped to 3-2-2, losing their second straight.

The Mavericks' power play clicked for the first two goals of the game.  On the first, Ortega held the puck, curling through the slot until he found a seam from a sharp angle and fired home his team-leading fourth goal of the season at 7:13.

The River Hawks were whistled for a penalty as the Mavericks scored, putting UNO right back on the power play.  Just 61 seconds later, Justin Parizek tipped in a shot by Ian Brady to make it 2-0.

UML got one goal back when Jake Kamrass took a feed from Guillaume Leclerc and whipped it past UNO goaltender Evan Weninger at 15:11.

The Mavericks built their lead back to two goals one minute into the second period when Vesel knocked in a bouncing puck for a power play goal.  David Pope and Ortega got the assists.

The Mavericks protected the lead expertly in the third period, outshooting the River Hawks, 11-4, and disrupting their attack with blocked passes and shots.

Steven Spinner put the Mavericks up 4-1 at 10:58 of the third when he worked a clever give-and-go with Fredrik Olofsson, sliding home a backhander for his first goal of the season.

Vesel punctuated the win with a shorthanded breakaway goal with 1:11 to go.  Vesel and Ortega lead the team with four goals each.  All of Vesel's goals have come via special teams with three power play goals and one shorthanded.

Weninger improved to 2-0-1 with a season-high 29 saves.  UML's Sean Cleary took the loss in his first collegiate start with 25 saves.

Both Mason Morelli and Pope finished the night with two assists.

The two teams finish the series on Saturday at 7:07 p.m.