Box Score MADISON, Wis. – Austin Ortega notched his first career hat trick, and the Omaha hockey team scored four unanswered goal to pull away for a 7-4 win over Wisconsin on Saturday night at the Kohl Center.

Jake Randolph added two goals and an assist, and Tyler Vesel had three assists as the Mavericks went 1-0-1 in the series against the Badgers to improve to 8-5-3 overall.  Wisconsin fell to 7-6-1.

The game featured big swings in momentum, particularly in the third period when there were three lead changes.

The Mavericks broke a 2-2 tie 2:51 into the final period when Luc Snuggerud picked off a pass and fed Colin Grannary who pushed home his first collegiate goal.

The Badgers tied the game on a power play midway through the period.  Jason Ford knocked in the rebound of a shot by Tim Davison at 10:11.

Just 1:26 later, Wisconsin had the lead for the first time in the game.  Luke Kunin tipped in a point shot from Cullen Hurley for his team-leading ninth goal of the year.

The Mavericks then went back on the offensive.  Randolph tied the game 37 seconds later, finishing off a feed from Vesel for his second goal of the game.

Justin Parizek got the eventual game winner, roofing the puck over goalie Jack Berry at 14:30.

Ortega made it 6-4 when he collected a goal-mouth pass from Fredrik Olofsson and beat Berry off the rush.  He added an empty-net goal with a minute left to earn UNO's first hat trick since February of 2014.  It also was his team-leading 12th goal of the season.

The Mavericks jumped in front less than a minute into the game.  Joel Messner spotted Ortega behind the Wisconsin defense and hit him with a pass that started a breakaway.  Ortega walked in and rifled a shot over the glove hand of Berry.

UNO stretched its lead on a power play at 3:12 of the second period.  Ortega threw a rinkwide pass to Randolph who hammered home his third goal of the season.

The Badgers battled back later in the period.  Grant Besse stole a clearing attempt during a power play and fired a shot past Kris Oldham at 6:27.

Then late in the period, Cameron Hughes slipped a shot into traffic in front of Oldham.  It hit teammate Luke Kunin and caromed in to make it 2-2 after two.

Oldham improved to 3-2-1, making 40 saves while Berry made 20 saves in the loss and is also 3-2-1.

The seven goals for is a season high for the Mavericks who are now unbeaten in their last four (2-0-2).  They also improved to 6-0-2 away from Baxter Arena this season.

Omaha finishes its pre-holiday schedule at St. Cloud State on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9-10.