KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Despite outshooting Omaha 33-14 in the second and third period, the Western Michigan hockey team opened up National Collegiate Hockey Conference play with a 5-2 loss to the Mavericks at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday night.
WMU picked up goals from Michael Rebry and Neal Goff on the night but three UNO goals in the first period proved to be the deciding factor in the loss. Lukas Hafner made 21 saves but was bested by Omaha's Ryan Massa. Massa finished with 37 saves on the night in his second win of the season.
Sophomore Justin Parizek opened the scoring for the Mavericks with his first career goal at 6:14 in the first period. Dominic Zombo sent the puck to Parizek who was open in the slot and he chipped it in far side top shelf.
Rebry scored his second goal of the season and his second-straight game with a goal at 10:31 in the first period. Justin Kovacs dished it to Willem Nong-Lambert, who passed it Rebry at the top of the slot. The sophomore forward then fired it into the lower right-hand corner of the net to square the game 1-1. Kovacs picked up his first of two assists on the night and Nong-Lambert registered his first collegiate point on the goal.
Omaha's Tanner Lane and Brian Cooper netted goals at 13:26 and 19:37 in the first period to give the Mavs a 3-1 lead heading into the second period.
Goff notched his first career goal at 1:18 in the second period to bring the Broncos within one of the Mavericks. Rebry found Goff at the left point and he fired in a shot far side, making the score 3-2. Rebry's assist on the goal gave him his first career two-point game.
Ian Brady netted a short-handed goal just after a Bronco was let out of the penalty box at 16:49 to push the lead to 4-2.
Omaha forward Jake Guentzel capped off the scoring with a late empty-netter at 19:35 in the third period setting the final score at 5-2.
WMU and UNO combined for 17 penalties on the night with the Mavericks tallying the lone power play goal. The Broncos finished 0-for-7 on the night with the man advantage.
Western Michigan will face the Mavericks to cap off the weekend series on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Lawson Ice Arena. The game can be seen on NCHC.tv.
