KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Omaha Hockey picked up its best win of the season as the Mavericks knocked off No. 3-ranked Western Michigan 4-1 Saturday night.
Omaha snapped a 10-game winning streak for Western Michigan, the defending national champion. Omaha had lost the first three games against the Broncos this season but never trailed Saturday.
Omaha (10-18, 6-12) got an outstanding defensive effort as
Simon Latkoczy recorded 25 saves and the defense killed off all five power plays for the Broncos, who entered the night averaging 3.9 goals per game.
Omaha had four players score goals as
Luke Woodworth finished with a goal and an assist.
Omaha grabbed its first lead midway through the first period when
Marc Lajoie scored a power-play goal. It was the sixth goal this season for Lajoie.
Omaha had an opportunity to add on to its lead early in the second period as the Mavericks were on a 5-on-3 power play. But Western Michigan (19-7, 11-5) kept Omaha off the board and the Broncos tied it with a short-handed goal.
But the Mavericks went back in front with 2:20 left in the second period.
After Latkoczy made a save, the Mavericks transitioned down the ice with a 2-on-1 opportunity. Jeremy Loranger hit
Brett Hyland with a pass in front of the net and Hyland scored his sixth of the season.
Omaha put the game on ice with a pair of third-period goals.
With 16:29 left, Omaha won a face-off and Marcus Nyugen scored from the top of the right face-off circle. It was Nyugen's second goal of the weekend and his eighth of the season.
Woodworth put the finishing touch on the night with an empty-netter with 11.9 seconds left. Woodworth now has four goals this season.
Omaha is idle next week before it will host Denver on Feb. 13.
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