OMAHA, Neb. –
David Pope had two goals and two assists to lead the Omaha hockey team to a 5-2 win over Nipissing in exhibition action to open the season.
Tyler Vesel added a goal and two assists, and
Jordan Klehr (0-2-2) and freshman
Lawson McDonald (1-1-2) each had two points in the win.
The Mavericks opened the scoring on a power play late in the first period. Klehr set up Pope for a hard wrist shot that found the top corner at 17:26.
The Lakers tied the game early in the second when a deflected shot eluded
Evan Weninger at 2:23.
UNO again used the power play to retake the lead late in the middle period. While playing with a five-on-three advantage, Vesel circled the Nipissing net before finding an opening and zipping a wrist shot to the corner at 17:19.
Pope's second goal came off a quick break 30 seconds into the third period. He took a pass from Vesel and buried a long-range wrister to make it 3-1.
Nipissing closed the gap just 22 seconds later on a goal by Travis McEvoy, but McDonald scored off a pass from Pope five minutes in, and
Riley Alferd slipped home the final goal at 8:20.
The game featured plenty of special teams play with UNO getting eight power plays and the Lakers seven. The Mavericks scored on three of those advantages while stopping all seven Laker power plays.
Weninger played all 60 minutes, stopping 11 shots as the Mavericks outshot Nipissing, 59-13. They landed 23 shots on the power play.
The Mavericks begin their NCAA schedule on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13-14 when they visit No. 5/9 UMass Lowell.
