Nov. 24, 2007
Box Score
OMAHA, NE- The Alaska Nanooks saw a pair of two-goal leads and their hopes of a capturing the program's first win of the season vanish as the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks rallied to erase their debt and net the go-ahead goal late in the third period on their way to a 4-3 Central Collegiate Hockey Association victory Friday night.
The Nanooks took the early lead on an even-strength goal by first-year skater and center Derek Klassen at 8:27 of the first frame. Rookie winger Nathan Lawrence assisted on the play and then added a (power-play) goal of his own two minutes later to make it 2-0 in favor of Alaska. Junior right wing Braden Walls and senior defenseman T. J. Campbell helped set up Lawrence for his first goal of the season and second point of the night.
UNO's defenseman Ed Del Grosso cut the Mavericks' debt in half at 4:28 of the second stanza but Alaska's freshman left wing Dustin Sather helped the Blue and Gold regain their two-goal margin at 12:48, getting help from sophomore center Dion Knelsen.
Brandon Scero tickled the twine just 64 seconds later to respond for the Mavericks and then his teammate Bryan Marshall evened the score at 16:35.
Del Grosso capped the game scoring with the game-winner (and power-play tally) at 14:51, just 32 seconds after Alaska's Tyler Eckford was whistled for hooking. His shot from the point beat the Nanooks' netminder Chad Johnson (0-4-0), who recorded 33 saves in a losing effort.
Alaska was outshot 37-22 and both teams were 1-for-4 on the power play.
The teams will conclude their two-game series at 7:05 Saturday night. Alaska dropped to 0-7-0 and 0-5-0 in the CCHA, while UNO improved to 5-5-0 on the year and 4-5-0 in the CCHA.
