On Friday night, there was hockey drama in Omaha as Augustana University attempted a late comeback against Omaha, ultimately falling short in a 2-1 defeat at the Baxter Arena.
Goalkeeper Zack Rose showcased his skills by stopping 29 shots, while Chase Brand scored his 16th career goal during the intense matchup.
The game began with Omaha taking an early lead, with Ray Fust tipping in a shot from the point. Despite this, Rose managed to make 14 saves in the first period, ensuring that the Vikings remained in the game.
As the game progressed, both teams engaged in a battle of scoring chances throughout the second period.
In the third period, UNO managed to extend their lead to 2-0, with Jacob Slipec scoring a goal midway through the period with a shot past Rose’s pads.
However, the Vikings’ determination paid off with less than five minutes remaining, as Brand scored a powerful goal off passes from Ryan Naumovski and Uula Ruikka. Augustana also pulled Rose in a last-ditch attempt to equalize the game, but despite numerous scoring opportunities, the Vikings fell short by a score of 2-1.
Key moments of the game included UNO’s early lead in the first period, their goal in the third period, as well as Augustana’s power play goal that closed the gap to 2-1. Additionally, the Vikings led the way with 21 blocked shots compared to the Mavericks’ nine, with Brady Ziemer making a team-high of six blocks and Augustana peppering 16 shots in the final 20 minutes of play.
UNO scored their first goal with Ray Fust’s tip-in from the point, with assists from Noah Ellis and Tyler Rollwagon. Their second goal came from Jacob Slipec’s shot from the slot. On the other hand, Augustana’s goal came from Chase Brand’s powerful shot, with assists from Ryan Naumovski and Uula Ruikka.
Looking ahead, Augustana will return home for its third home game of the season, presented by First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard. The upcoming game against UNO will take place at 6:07 p.m. on Saturday night to close out the home-and-home series.