OMAHA, Neb. – No. 2 St. Cloud State got two goals each from Mikey Eyssimont and Jake Wahlin in a 7-4 win over the No. 20 Omaha hockey team on Friday night at Baxter Arena.

The Mavericks fell to 6-6-1 overall and 1-4-0-0/0 in the NCHC while St. Cloud State improved to 10-2-0 overall and 5-2-0-0/0 in the conference, putting it in a tie with Western Michigan for first place.

The Mavericks created a few anxious moments for the Huskies in the third period as the visitors protected a 5-2 lead.  David Pope scored on a power play blast just 43 seconds into the third for his team-leading eighth goal of the year.

Zach Jordan then made it 5-4 at 4:20 when he slipped a shot inside the far post for his fifth goal of the year.

The Mavericks continued their push, but SCSU goalie Jeff Smith made several big saves, and Wahlin got his second at 16:15 of the third to give the Huskies some breathing room.

Eyssimont added his second into an empty net at 18:26.

Alex Blankenburg came into the game in the third for starter Evan Weninger and made three saves on four shots.  Weninger took the loss with 20 saves and five goals against in two periods of work.  

Smith made 40 saves for the Huskies who were outshot, 44-30.

The Mavericks weathered an early penalty kill to take the first lead of the game.  Just 3:14 in, Steven Spinner tipped in a shot by Ryan Jones for his fifth goal of the season.

The Huskies got goals 1:24 apart from Kevin Fitzgerald and Wahlin to take a 2-1 lead, but the Mavericks answered back.  Tyler Vesel took a pass from Pope and flipped the puck over the glove of Smith for his sixth goal of the year.

St. Cloud State closed the first period by taking the lead again.  Easton Brodzinski tallied his fourth of the year at 18:42.

The Huskies then built their lead to 5-2 after two periods with a goal from Eyssimont at 1:10 and from Brodzinski again at 17:20.

The series concludes on Saturday at 7:07 p.m. at Baxter Arena.

NOTES:

• The loss was the first for UNO this season at home.  They are now 3-1-1 at Baxter Arena.
• The loss also snapped UNO's two-game win streak.
• Jordan has now scored goals in three straight games.
• The Mavericks have scored four goals in three straight games and have scored at least four in nine of their first 13 games.
• Friday's attendance of 6,148 was a season high.

Three Stars:  1. Jake Wahlin (SCSU); 2. David Pope (UNO); 3. Mika Ilvonen (SCSU)