Mankato, Minn. --- Sixth-rated Minnesota State nearly clawed its way back into the game Friday evening at Verizon Wireless Center, but it was #10 Nebraska-Omaha that managed to come away with the 3-2 victory in a men's college hockey nonconference contest played in Mankato.

With the win, UNO improves to 1-0-0 on the season, while the Mavericks fall to 0-1-0.

Nebraska-Omaha got the scoring going early in the first period as Jake Randolph was able to put UNO on top 1-0 at 4:34 of the first period. UNO would strike again late in the first period as Austin Ortega and Fredrik Olofsson set up Jake Guentzel's goal at 18:22 and the visitors entered the locker room with a 2-0 lead after the first period of play.

UNO did not waste any time in the second period as Austin Ortega put Nebraska-Omaha up 3-0 just 53 seconds into the second. Brian Cooper was credited with an assist on the goal by Ortega.

MSU got on the board at the 13:28 mark when senior Jimmy Mullin scored on the power play after pouncing on a rebound to bring MSU within two at 3-1.The goal for Mullin, who spent three years at Miami before transferring to Minnesota State, is the first of his MSU career. Juniors Sean Flanagan and Zach Stepan each got credited with an assist on the play.

Minnesota State pulled within one at 4:37 of the third as sophomore C.J. Franklin notched his first goal of the season, with junior Casey Nelson and sophomore Clint Lewis providing the assists.

Minnesota State had several scoring chances down the stretch of the third period, but was unable to get the equalizer as Nebraska-Omaha held on to the 3-2 victory.

Minnesota State held the edge in shots on goal 26-25, to go along with a 40-24 advantage in the face-off circle. MSU finished the game one-of-five on the power play, while holding UNO scoreless on its three opportunities with the man advantage.

UNO's Kirk Thompson (1-0-0) stopped 24 of MSU's 26 shots to earn the win, while MSU junior goaltender Cole Huggins (0-1-0) stopped 22-of-25 shots.

The two teams wrap up the weekend series Saturday with a 7:07 face-off scheduled at Verizon Wireless Center.A

Head coach Mike Hastings commented following the game.



                                                                    -30-