Feb. 1, 2005

By Brian Brashaw The Gateway

OMAHA, Neb. (U-WIRE) - Distractions aside, the UNO hockey team focused itself enough last weekend to sweep Wayne State (Mich.) 3-2, 4-2, at the Civic Auditorium. UNO improved to 14-10-2 on the year and finished January with a 6-1-1 record with the only loss coming at Miami-Ohio.

The "Back to the Bullpen" weekend was a success , as the team stayed focused against the non-conference Warriors despite some of the outside festivities. Though the series was non-conference , the Mavericks remained in fourth place in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, but fell three points behind third-place Northern Michigan.

Anthony Adams came up big for the Mavericks Friday with a goal and an assist. Adams scored the opening goal, 2:13 into the game, with a shorthander. John May tied the game for the Warriors in the second period before UNO rattled off two straight goals to give the Mavericks a 3-1 cushion. Goals came from Scott Parse and Bryan Marshall.

Wayne State fought back again late in the game scoring a 6-on-4 power play goal with 1:46 left to play, but UNO held on for the win. Goalie Chris Holt, who has allowed more than two goals just once in the last eight games made 32 of 34 stops in the game.

Saturday night Wayne State struck first, but UNO struck more often. Nate Higgins put the Warriors up 1-0 in the first period, but a late first period and an early second period goal put UNO in the lead. Kaleb Betts rattled in the tying goal with just 1:56 left in the first and Bill Thomas scored 33 seconds into the second with a power play goal.

The pesky Warriors tied the game with a power play goal of their own by Andy Klug. David Phillips scored the game winner for UNO in the middle of the third period, and Alex Nikiforuk capped the game with an empty netter late for the 4-2 win.

UNO travels to hapless Notre Dame next weekend. Notre Dame is in last place in the CCHA with only three conference wins. Notre Dame has scored just 31 goals in 20 league games where UNO has 68. However UNO has only three roads wins on the year.