NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Omaha hockey team built a four-goal lead and hung on for a 6-4 win over No. Notre Dame on Thursday at Compton Family Ice Arena.

David Pope had two goals and an assist, and Jake Randolph had a goal and two assists to lead the Mavericks to their third win of the season.  UNO is now 3-1-1 while the Fighting Irish dipped to 3-3-1.

Leading 3-1 late in the second period, the Mavericks scored two goals in 1:16 to stretch their advantage.  Pope zipped a wrist shot over St. Cyr's glove after a turnover, and Zach Jordan powered home his second of the year, finishing a pass from Tristan Keck at 17:55.

But Notre Dame responded 41 seconds later with a goal from Cal Burke, and Andrew Peeke beat Evan Weninger through a screen at 19:37 to make it 5-3 after two.

The Fighting Irish then trimmed the deficit to one when Jordan Gross scored on a power play 1:03 into the third.

But Omaha dug in defensively, killing a late penalty to Spinner who would score into an empty net with 6.1 seconds remaining for the final score.

The Mavericks got the lead just 15 seconds into the first period.  Pope scooped up a loose puck, raced down the left wing and threw a long wrist shot past goalie Dylan St. Cyr.  It was the second fastest goal to start a game in UNO history.

Randolph doubled the lead at 5:10 of the period.  He and Pope worked a give-and-go in tight quarters, eventually firing a shot between St. Cyr and the post for his second goal of the year.

The Mavericks scored quickly to start the second period as well.  Randolph attempted a wraparound shot, and the puck sailed through the crease to Steven Spinner who charged in and hammered home his second of the year at :54.

Notre Dame finally got on the board when Bobby Nardella fired home a pass from Jake Evans at 4:00.

Evan Weninger made 31 saves to improve to 3-1-0 this season.  St. Cyr, who was lifted after the second period, made 20 saves and allowed five goals.  Cale Morris made five stops in relief in the third period.

The two teams finish the series on Friday at 6:35 p.m.

NOTES:  

• The Mavericks went 0-for-3 on the power play, their first game this season without a power play goal.
• Omaha improved to 3-0-0 all-time at Compton Family Ice Arena, a record that includes their two wins in the 2015 NCAA Midwest Regional.  
• The Mavericks are now 6-9-2 all-time at Notre Dame.  Their last win over the Irish on the road was Jan. 29, 2010 when the two teams played in the CCHA.
• Pope's goal missed the school record for fastest goal to start a game by four seconds.  Austin Ortega scored 11 seconds into a game against Colorado College on Feb. 28, 2014.

Three stars: 1. David Pope (UNO); 2. Jake Evans (ND); 3. Jake Randolph (UNO)