Box Score OXFORD, Ohio – The Omaha hockey team scored five unanswered goals to pull away for a 6-4 win over Miami on Friday at Steve Cady Arena.
Mason Morelli had two goals, and
Joel Messner had his first collegiate goal along with an assist to contribute to the comeback in game one of the weekend series.
Trailing 4-2 entering the third period, the Mavericks drew to within one when
Jake Randolph tipped in a shot by Messner just 1:23 in.
Steven Spinner tied the game with an unassisted goal at 5:47. He came out of the penalty box, picked up a loose puck and raced in on goalie Ryan Larkin. He ripped a shot that went in and out of the top corner in a split second. The goal was upheld by a video review.
David Pope netted the game winner just past the halfway mark of the third. Cutting across the crease, he tipped in a shot by
Luc Snuggerud for his second goal of the season.
Morelli added his second goal of the night with 41 seconds remaining, scoring into an empty net.
The stunning comeback from a 4-1 deficit helped the Mavericks improve to 5-3-1 overall and 2-1-0-0/0 in the NCHC. Miami dropped its fourth in a row and is now 3-5-2 overall and 0-3-0-0/0 in the conference.
For the seventh time in nine games, the Mavericks opened the scoring in a game. On a power play, Morelli tipped in a point shot by
Ian Brady at 7:21 for this third goal of the season.
Miami tied the game on its first power play of the game. Anthony Louis got free with a nifty deke and then fed Josh Melnick who fired a shot just under the crossbar at 16:31.
The RedHawks netted three goals in the second period to take the 4-1 lead. Connor Lemirande scored at 6:23, and Louis scored two goals 34 seconds apart to put the Mavericks in a hole.
UNO got one goal back before the period closed. Racing up ice shorthanded. Spinner fed Messner who was skating down the right wing. He took the pass and fired it home at 16:15.
Evan Weninger earned his third win of the year with 24 saves. Larkin started the game and allowed four goals on 20 shots but did not get the decision. Chase Monroe, in his first collegiate appearance, allowed the game winner on eight shots to take the loss in relief.
The Mavericks finished 2-for-5 on the power play and have now scored at least one power play goal in all nine games. Miami went 1-for-4 with the man advantage.
The two teams finish the series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. CT.
