KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan hockey team surrendered three first period goals following its opening goal of the game en route to a 4-2 loss against the University of Nebraska Omaha on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Lawson Arena. 

With the series split, the Broncos' record drops to 4-6 overall and 1-3 in National Collegiate Athletic Conference, while UNO improves to 2-7-1, 2-2 NCHC. 

Western Michigan scored the game's opening goal just under five minutes in. Austin Rueschhoff capitalized on a Maverick turnover and went in all alone to score his fifth goal of the year - which ties for the team lead. 

Omaha scored the equalizer on the man advantage a couple minutes later. A shot from the point by Dean Stewart made its way through as WMU netminder Trevor Gorsuch was screened in front. 

The Broncos were unsuccessful on their second power play advantage of the first period before UNO claimed its first lead of the night. Tristan Keck finished a rebound chance at 17:48 to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Following the goal, Cam Lee and Chayse Primeau were each called for slashing, creating a 4-on-4 opportunity, in which the Mavericks scored the eventual game-winner near the end of the period to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission. 

WMU outshot UNO 13-6 in the middle frame while both teams went scoreless as the Mavericks preserved their two-goal advantage heading into the final frame. 

Mattias Samuelsson cut the WMU deficit to one goal with his third tally of the season 4:45 into the third period to steal back some momentum. However, the Brown & Gold was unable to come any closer and a Maverick empty net goal at 19:41 sealed the 4-2 victory. 

WMU was outshot 30-29 by Omaha while going 0-for-3 on the power play. The Mavericks went 1-for-4 on the man advantage. 

Western Michigan heads to Grand Forks, N.D. next weekend for a NCHC series at the University of North Dakota Nov. 16-17.