OMAHA, Neb. – Seniors Mason Morelli and Fredrik Olofsson combined for four goals and six points to power the Omaha hockey team past No. 8 Western Michigan, 6-3, on Saturday night at Baxter Arena.

Both Olofsson and Morelli had two goals and an assist and now sit 1-2 in NCHC scoring for all games played with 30 and 29 points respectively.

Their classmate, Evan Weninger, put up another strong night in goal, helping the Mavericks kill off a five-minute major penalty in the third period to ensure a split of the weekend and the season series.

The Mavericks improved to 8-16-2 on the season and 4-11-1-0/1 in the NCHC, moving them ahead of Miami into seventh place in the standings.  The Broncos lost for just the third time since November, falling to 16-9-1 overall and 9-6-1-0/1 in conference play, good for third.

For the second night in a row, the Mavericks opened the scoring.  Chayse Primeau, playing his first game since Dec. 7, took the puck to the net.  Western Michigan goalie Trevor Gorsuch made the save, but Tyler Weiss was able to chip the rebound over Gorsuch for his second goal of the year at 5:03.

Omaha doubled the lead just 1:42 later when John Schuldt collected a loose puck and fired a shot that hit Morelli.  Olofsson found the rebound on his stick and hammered it home for his ninth goal of the year.

The Broncos got one goal back when Austin Rueschoff won a battle along the wall and was able to slip the puck past Evan Weninger at 17:47 of the first.

Omaha reeled off three goals to start the second.  Morelli converted a pass from Taylor Ward at 1:08.  The goal came about because Ryan Jones dove to keep the puck in at the blue line and then feed Ward from his stomach.

The Mavericks cashed in on a power play to make it 4-1.  Olofsson got his second of the night with a shot to the top corner at 8:13.  Dean Stewart and Morelli assisted.

Tristan Keck followed at 11:40, breaking down the left wing and firing a shot between Gorsuch and the near post for his sixth of the year.

But Western Michigan pushed back, getting goals from Wade Allison and Colt Conrad in the final 5:20 to make it 5-3 after two.

In the third, freshman Jason Smallidge was given a five-minute major for kneeing, one of three power plays for the Broncos in the period.  For 31 seconds, the Broncos had a five-on-three advantage, but Weninger made several point-blank saves, and Omaha's penalty killers in front of him limited the Broncos to just three shots during those man advantages.

Morelli capped the scoring by scoring into an empty net off an assist from Olofsson at 19:40.

Weninger finished with 30 saves while Gorsuch and Ben Blacker combined to stop 31 for the Broncos.

The Mavericks are on the road next week, visiting Miami for games on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8-9.

GAME NOTES:

• In addition to Morelli and Olofsson, freshmen Taylor Ward had three assists while John Schuldt registered two assists.
• By playing both games of the series, Weninger moved into third all-time at UNO in games played (105) and minutes played (5925:19), passing Jerad Kaufmann.
• The Mavericks went 1-for-3 on the power play and now have scored at least one power play goal in 20 of 26 games.  Omaha held Western Michigan without a power play goal in five chances.
• The Mavericks picked up their fifth win of the season against an opponent ranked in the top 20.
• The six goals scored by the Mavericks ties a season high.
• Omaha improved to 26-19-6 all-time against Western Michigan including records of 15-7-2 at home and 6-2-0 at Baxter Arena.
• Saturday's game marked the 51st meeting all-time between the two schools.  That ties the Broncos with Alaska as the opponent the Mavericks have faced more than any other.

Three Stars:  1. Fredrik Olofsson/Omaha – Two goals, one assist; 2. Mason Morelli/Omaha – Two goals, two assists; 3. Colt Conrad/WMU – One goal, one assist