OMAHA, Neb. - Omaha Hockey led early in the second period as it looked for a NCHC series sweep, but (RV) St. Cloud State scored the tie-breaking goal with 12:56 left in a 2-1 win over the Mavericks on Saturday night at Baxter Arena.
Barrett Hall scored the winning goal for St. Cloud (11-11, 4-8) on a power-play opportunity.
Omaha went on a late power play as it looked to tie it up, but the Huskies' defense held the Mavericks to one shot on goal over the final five minutes. Omaha was 1 for 6 on power plays for the night.
Omaha (8-14, 4-8) had scored at least four goals in five of its last six games, but the defenses set the tone Saturday.
St. Cloud put pressure on the Mavericks early as
Dawson Cowan had to make two good saves in the first five minutes. Omaha had only six shot attempts in the first period despite being on the power play twice.
The Mavericks got on the board on their seventh shot on goal of the night. While on a power play,
Brett Hyland dropped off a pass in front of the net to
Samuel Huo, who buried his shot for a 1-0 lead. It was Huo's fifth goal of the season and second of the weekend.
Cowan didn't allow a goal in the final 49 minutes of Friday's 6-2 win and had a shutout Saturday before St. Cloud tied it with 12:49 left in the period. The teams went into the second intermission tied 1-1.
Cowan made four saves in the first three minutes of the third period to keep it tied. But St. Cloud kept the pressure on as Hall scored in transition.
Omaha thought it had evened the score with 10:11 left on a shot by
Cameron Mitchell. The play went to video review and it was ruled the puck didn't cross the goal line.
Cowan finished his night with 20 saves. Omaha had 21 shots on goal on the night, while St. Cloud had 22.
Omaha is on the road against Miami (Ohio) to begin a NCHC series at 6 p.m. CT Friday.
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