LOVELAND, Colo. – No. 2 Minnesota scored three times in each of the first two period to post a 7-2 win over the No. 12 Omaha hockey team in the NCAA West Region semifinal on Saturday night.

Junior Taylor Ward had the Mavericks' goals, and Tyler Weiss assisted on both.

The Mavericks' season comes to an end in their fourth appearance in the NCAA playoffs.  They finish with a record of 14-11-1 overall.  Minnesota (24-6-0) moves on to play Minnesota State in the regional final on Sunday.

Inside the First Period
Minnesota started fast, building a 3-0 lead on goals from Mason Nevers, Brock Faber and Scott Reedy.

But 28 seconds after UM's third goal, Weiss set up Ward who snapped a hard wrist shot past goalie Jack LaFontaine at 18:04 to make it 3-1.

Inside the Second Period
The Gophers tacked on three more in the period with Ryan Johnson and Ben Meyers scoring and Nevers adding his second of the game late.

Inside the Third Period
Ward notched his second of the game just 3:05 into the third when he drove in off the left wing and stuffed the puck under LaFontaine for his team-leading 13th of the year.

But 1:12 later, Sampo Ranta got the goal back for the final margin.

Isaiah Saville made 10 saves before being replaced by Austin Roden following Minnesota's fifth goal.  Roden stopped 13 of 15 shots.

GAME NOTES:

• With two assists, Weiss finished the season as the team's assist leader with 16.  He also moved into a tie with Chayse Primeau for the team scoring lead with 23 points.
• Ward joined Jake Guentzel as the only Maverick to score two goals in a single NCAA playoff.  Guentzel had two over three games.
• The Mavericks were whistled for just two minor penalties in the game.  The last time that happened was Dec. 18 against Western Michigan, their ninth game of the year.