Box Score    Omaha, Neb.  --- 11^th-rated Minnesota State opened the 2014-15 campaign with a bang, scoring the first of the game quickly following the opening face-off, but the Mavericks could sustain that pace in falling 5-3 to  Nebraska Omaha in nonconference action Friday in Omaha.

Senior defenseman Zach Palmquist finished off a flurry of shots when he snapped one past UNO netminder Ryan Massa on the stickside just 44 seconds into the game, but UNO responded at 12:04 when defenseman Luc Snuggerud tallied from in front and when Jake Guentzel scored on the power play at the 16-minute mark, the home team took a 2-1 lead into the locker room after the opening period of play.

The Mavericks cut the deficit to 3-2 when sophomore defenseman Casey Nelson fired a shot from outside the top of the right face-off circle that bounced off of Massa and a UNO defenseman into the net with Minnesota State on the power play at 15:13 of the second period.

Minnesota State freshman forward Brad McClure got his first goal as a collegian when he finished off a nice pass from Dylan Margonari off of an odd-man rush at 5:13 of the third period to tie the game.  UNO retook the lead a short time later on an Ortega power play marker at 6:33 and then sealed the win with an empty-net tally from Dominic Zombo at 19:39.

Minnesota State, which stands 0-1-0 overall with tonight's loss, went one-for-five in power play chances. The Mavericks outshot UNO in the game by a 25-22 margin and UNO converted on three-of-seven man-advantage opportunities.

The two teams return to the ice Saturday with a 7:07 p.m. face-off scheduled at CenturyLink Center Omaha.

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.