OMAHA, Neb. – Taylor Ward scored his first career hat trick and had a four-point night to help the Omaha hockey team pick up a 4-2 win over Western Michigan on Saturday night at Baxter Arena.

The Mavericks earned an important split with the Broncos after losing the series opener on Friday.  They improved to 12-11-5 overall and 6-7-3-0/0 in the NCHC, putting them in a tie with St. Cloud State for fifth.  The Broncos, who came into the night having won five straight, dipped to 12-10-4 overall and 8-6-2-0/0 in the conference, tying them with Denver for third.

Omaha led 2-1 entering the third period, but the Broncos knotted the game on a power play.  Austin Rueschhoff swept home the rebound of Wade Allison's shot at 5:58.

Ward responded for the Mavericks in the late going, sending a backhander over goalie Brandon Bussi at 15:25.

He completed the hat trick with a 170-foot clearing attempt that slid slowly across the goal line into an empty net with 48 seconds remaining.

The win helped the Mavericks split the four-game season series at two wins apiece.  The two teams split a series in Kalamazoo, Mich. in November.

The Broncos grabbed the lead just 46 seconds into the game when Rhett Kingston tucked home a loose puck for his eighth goal of the season.

The Mavericks tied the game on a nifty passing play at the end of the first.  Ward took a pass from Kevin Conley, drifted to the left of the Broncos' net and then fed Nolan Sullivan for his second goal of the weekend at 18:05.

Omaha had four power plays in the second, including a five-minute man advantage.  They went ahead when Ward's centering pass went in off a Western Michigan defender for a power play goal at 18:08.

Isaiah Saville made 24 saves to earn his ninth win of the year while Bussi also stopped 24 as the Mavericks outshot the Broncos, 28-26.

The Mavericks return to action next weekend, visiting two-time defending national champion Minnesota Duluth on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8.

GAME NOTES:  

• Ward's hat trick was the second of the season for the Mavericks and second against Western Michigan.  Conley had three goals and an assist in a 6-3 win in Kalamazoo on Nov. 16.
• The last time the Mavericks had two hat tricks in one year was 2017-18 when Zach Jordan had one against Minnesota Duluth and David Pope accomplished the feat against St. Cloud State.
• Ward now leads the team with 16 goals and 27 points.  He ranks second in the NCHC in goals and is tied for third in points for all games played.  Ward also tied his career high for points in a season.
• Omaha is now 6-1-0 in the second game of a weekend series after losing the first game.
• The Mavericks surpassed their NCHC win total from last season with Saturday's win.
• Saturday's game marked Omaha's first NCHC win at home this season.  They're now 1-4-3-0/0 in conference games at Baxter Arena.

Three stars:  1. Taylor Ward/Omaha (3-1-4); 2. Kevin Conley/Omaha (0-2-2); 3. Austin Rueschhoff/WMU (1-1-2)