KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Sophomore forward Luke Grainger netted his first career hat trick as the seventh-ranked Western Michigan hockey team took a 1-0 series lead in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Quarterfinals after downing No. 19 Omaha, 4-2, at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday night.

In addition to the trio of goals by Grainger, the Broncos (23-10-1) also picked up a tally from Ethen Frank, while Josh Passolt led the way with a game-high two assists. Junior netminder Brandon Bussi made 29 saves on the night, including 13 in the second period, to pick up his 23rd victory of the season.

Grainger netted his first of the night to give the Broncos an early 1-0 lead, just 3:45 into the game. Passolt chipped the puck ahead from just in front of the benches to Chad Hillebrand. The sophomore forward took it into the UNO zone with a two-on-one rush with Grainger. He centered the puck to Grainger in the slot and the Montreal, Quebec, native buried it in the net for his fifth goal of the season. Hillebrand picked up his sixth assist of the year and Passolt tallied his 18th.

Omaha responded with two goals in the span of 1:53. The first goal came on the power play at 16:08 of the first period. Matt Miller banked the puck off a Bronco defenseman and into the net to tie it up at 1-1. Taylor Ward gave the Mavericks the lead at 18:01, converting off of a turnover for his 19th goal of the season.

After a scoreless second period, Grainger netted his second of the night at 7:57 in the third period. Passolt chipped the puck up to Grainger at the blue line and he skated into the slot, weaving his way through traffic before back-handing it past UNO goalie Isaiah Saville to tie it up at 2-2.

Grainger completed the hat trick with the game-winner at 15:38. Aidan Fulp tried to hit Ty Glover in the slot but Glover won a battle for the puck against an Omaha defenseman and left the puck for Grainger, who skated into the slot right off the bench and buried it into the net to give the Broncos a 3-2 lead.

Frank added his nation-leading 26th goal with 1:24 left to play, tapping the puck into an empty net after Saville had been pulled for the extra attacker. Cole Gallant picked up his 17th assist of the season and Bussi tallied his fourth.

Western Michigan and Omaha go at it again on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. for game two of the best-of-three series. The game can be streamed live on NCHC.tv and heard live on the Bronco Media Network.