OMAHA, Neb. – The eighth-ranked Western Michigan hockey team scored two late goals to come from behind to defeat Omaha 7-6 on the road at Baxter Arena on Saturday night.
Senior Sheldon Dries tied a career-high with four points on two goals and two assists and Griffen Molino netted his second collegiate hat trick in the win. WMU also picked up goals from Frederik Tiffels and Colt Conrad, while Matheson Iacopelli had two assists, including setting up the game-winner. Three of Western Michigan's goals came short-handed, tying a
WMU had a 5-2 lead before UNO scored four unanswered goals to take a 6-5 lead at 8:24 in the third period.
The Broncos dug deep and Molino netted his second short-handed goal of the night at 14:12 in the third period to tie it up at 6-6. Dries deflected a shot and took it out to center ice where he threaded the needle to Molino. The sophomore forward went in alone and beat backup goalie Alex Blakenburg for his 10th goal of the season.
Minutes later Molino punched in a rebound on a shot by Iacopelli for the game-winner at 17:49 in the third period. Dries chased down a loose puck in the corner in the Omaha zone and centered it back into the slot. Iacopelli controlled it and ripped a hard and low shot from the right circle. Blankenburg made the save with his leg pad but the rebound kicked out into the slot and Molino put it into the open net to complete the hat trick.
UNO outshot the Broncos 39-29 on the night and went 3-for-8 on the power play but gave up the costly three short-handed goals.
Conrad opened up the scoring just 1:39 into the game with his 10th goal of the season. Wade Allison intercepted a pass inside the Maverick zone and dished it off to Hugh McGing in the right circle. McGing found his linemate alone in the left circle for the one-timer to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead.
Dries' first of the game gave WMU a 2-0 lead at 4:18. During a UNO power play he deflected a pass out to center ice and tracked it down to beat starting goalie Evan Weninger for his first of the night and ninth of the season.
UNO was given a 5-on-3 advantage during the same power play and David Pope took advantage with a shot from the right circle to cut the lead to 2-1 at 4:36.
Dries' second of the night came at 5:19 after WMU was awarded a 5-on-3 power play, giving the Broncos a 3-1 lead. Iacopelli fired a shot from the right boards and the puck bounced into the air in the crease. Dries batted it out of the air and into the net.
Tiffels netted his fifth of the season to push the lead to 4-1 at 12:45 in the first period. Michael Rebry held the puck inside the UNO zone and left a drop pass to Tiffels, who skated in to the left circle and beat Wenninger, ending his night.
Omaha responded at 15:08 as Pope scored his second of the night after redirecting a shot by Jordan Klehr between Ben Blacker's legs, cutting the score to 4-2.
Molino gave the Broncos a 5-2 lead on his second goal of the night and first short-handed goal at 16:15. An errant pass got past the Omaha defense and the sophomore forward jumped on it for a breakaway goal, his ninth of the season.
Less than a minute later Luc Snuggerud scored on the power play to close out the scoring in an eight-goal first period.
Tristan Keck scored the lone goal in the second period to cut WMU's lead to 5-4 heading into the third period.
Joel Messner scored at 4:58 off of a faceoff to tie the game up at 5-5 before Fredrick Olofsson gave Omaha the lead at 8:24 after a power play goal.
The two teams battle it out for the final time of the regular season on Saturday at 8 p.m.
