GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Junior Taylor Ward scored a power play goal in overtime to give the No. 12 Omaha hockey team a 3-2 win over No. 1 North Dakota on Friday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

It marked the second straight year the Mavericks had won in Grand Forks when UND was the top-ranked team, and it was the second straight year UNO authored the Fighting Hawks' only home defeat of the season.

The Mavericks finished the regular season at 14-9-1 overall and 14-9-1-4-0 (1) in the NCHC.  They will go into the NCHC Playoffs as the fourth seed and face fifth-seeded Denver on Saturday, March 13.

The Fighting Hawks concluded the regular season at 18-5-1 and 18-5-1-2-0 (0) in the conference.  UND is the top seed and will face Miami in the first round.

Inside the First Period
Both teams were defensive minded in the opening frame.  The Mavericks had the better of the scoring chances in spite being outshot 6-3.

Inside the Second Period
The Mavericks finally broke through with an early power play.  Brandon Scanlin set up Kevin Conley for a one-timer from the right faceoff circle.  He beat goalie Peter Thome top corner at 4:31.

Just 14 seconds later, the Mavericks doubled their lead when Jason Smallidge kept the puck in the offensive zone.  He fired toward the net and the rebound ricocheted to Chayse Primeau who snapped a shot under the crossbar for his ninth goal of the year.

UND got one back at 14:01 when Jackson Keane knocked in the rebound of a shot by Louis Jamernik.

Inside the Third Period
The Fighting Hawks tied the game just 15 seconds into the period when Jordan Kawaguchi knocked the puck in out of the air with the shaft of his stick.

Inside the Overtime
The Mavericks caught a break just 50 seconds in when Tyler Weiss was slashed while on a partial breakaway, leading to a power play.

Scanlin fired a wrist shot from the low slot that Ward tipped past Thome for his team leading 11th goal of the season.

Isaiah Saville picked up his career-best 12th win of the season with 26 saves while Thome stopped 17 for UND.

GAME NOTES:

• Both Ward and Conley finished the night with a goal and an assist each.
• Primeau's goal was his career best ninth of the season.
• The Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak, their longest of the season.
• Omaha went 2-for-3 on the power play after enduring a drought during their last 11 chances.  
• The Mavericks scored six power play goals in six games against UND.  The Fighting Hawks have allowed 14 power play goals this season.
• The Mavericks killed off all five UND power plays.
• Omaha improved to 11-1-0 when scoring first this season.
• UND is 26-2 at home over the last two seasons with both losses coming against the Mavericks.
• The Mavericks have equaled their win total from last season in just 24 games.  It took them 34 games to do so last year.

Three Stars:  1. Jackson Keane/UND (One goal); 2. Jordan Kawaguchi/UND (One goal); 3. Taylor Ward/Omaha (1-1-2)