OMAHA, Neb. – The Western Michigan hockey team opened up conference play with a 5-2 victory at Nebraska-Omaha tonight at Baxter Arena. 

The Broncos got goals from Owen Michaels, Hugh Larkin, Matteo Costantini, Sam Colangelo and Dylan Wendt. Colangelo's goal marked his fourth straight game lighting the lamp and he pushed his point streak to five games.

FIRST PERIOD
Western Michigan controlled much of the opening few minutes, getting the first four shots of the game. Wendt had two shots saved, while Ethan Phillips and Joe Cassetti each had one nabbed by Omaha goaltender Simon Latkoczy. 

After the opening flurry of shots from the Broncos, it was Omaha that was able to find the back of the net to go up 1-0. Following the goal, the Brown and Gold went back on the attack, as Phillips and Zak Galambos combined for three shots over the next 30 seconds of action. 

The game then moved to the middle portion of the first frame, and Omaha would get the first opportunity on the power play. The Mavericks would get three shots, but Cameron Rowe and the Broncos would eventually get back to full strength. 

It was then WMU's turn to go on the man advantage with just under 5 minutes to play in the period. Samuel Sjolund, Carter Berger and Colangelo would fire shots on net, but Latkoczy was able to keep Omaha in front.

Down the stretch of the period, WMU would kill off one more Omaha power play and head into the first intermission trailing by one. 

SECOND PERIOD
It didn't take long for the Broncos to tie the game, as Michaels netted his first career goal in the opening two minutes of the second frame. A few minutes later, Omaha would go back in front with a power-play goal.

However, from there, it was all Broncos. Hugh Larkin joined the scoring for WMU just under eight minutes into the second frame, jamming one home inside the left post to knot the game at 2-2. 

Then, Chad Hillebrand chipped a puck to Colangelo who threw a pass out front that found the stick of Costantini. Costantini buried the Broncos' third goal of the game and put the Brown and gold in front 3-2 with about nine minutes left in the second 20 minutes. 

Down the stretch of the second period, WMU would kill off another Omaha power play and earned a power play of its own with 25 seconds left in the second frame. 

THIRD PERIOD
Utilizing that power play time, Western Michigan was able to extend its lead to 4-2, thanks to a Colangelo one-timer in the opening two minutes of the last frame. A few minutes later, WMU would go back on the penalty kill and successfully get back to full strength after two shots on goal. 

As the game moved to the middle portion of the third period, WMU was able to kill another Omaha power play to keep the score 4-2 Broncos. With about six minutes to play, Colangelo and Berger had a pair of looks stopped by Latkoczy. 

Eventually, Omaha would pull its goalie to try and erase the two-goal deficit. However, Alex Bump would hit Wendt who scored on the empty net to secure the 5-2 victory for WMU. 

UP NEXT
WMU will finish its series against Omaha tomorrow night at 8 p.m.