OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha hockey team dropped its home opener, losing 4-1 to No. 2 Notre Dame on Friday night at Baxter Arena.

The loss dropped the Mavericks to 0-2-1 on the season while the Fighting Irish improved to 2-0-1.

Notre Dame grabbed the game's first lead when Cam Morrison fired home a long rebound from the left wing at 4:26 of the first period.

The Mavericks tied the game on a power play shortly afterward.  Ryan Jones fed Fredrik Olofsson at the right face-off circle, and he zipped a top corner shot for his first goal of the season.

The Fighting Irish retook the lead late in the period when Tory Dello took a sharp-angle shot from the right corner that was tipped in by Michael O'Leary at 17:08.

Notre Dame held a 24-8 shot advantage in the second period and added to its lead when Michael Graham finished off a feed from Morrison at 9:59.

Jack Jenkins scored on a shorthanded breakaway at 17:55 of the third for the final margin.

Evan Weninger made a season-high 37 saves as the Irish outshot UNO, 41-21. ND's Dylan St. Cyr made 20 saves.

The two teams finish the series on Saturday at 7:07 p.m.

NOTES:

• The Mavericks killed off all three Notre Dame power plays while going 1-for-6 with the man advantage.
• Omaha has won just two of its last 14 games against the Fighting Irish.
• Notre Dame was making its first appearance at Baxter Arena and also its first visit to Omaha since February of 2009.

Three Stars:  1. Cam Morrison – ND (1-2-3); 2. Mike O'Leary – ND (1-1-2); 3. Fredrik Olofsson – Omaha (one goal)