OMAHA, Neb. – The Western Michigan hockey team opened NCHC play with a 2-1 victory over Omaha on Friday night at Baxter Arena. 

After going down 1-0 in the first period, it was all Broncos from there. Alex Bump and Tristan Lemyre lit the lamp for the Brown and Gold, while Cameron Rowe made 28 saves in the victory. Rowe's start in net was the 100th of his career. 

FIRST PERIOD
The Broncos came out aggressive, getting the first three shots of the game. Grant Slukynsky had two of those three looks on net. Just over seven minutes into the period, Omaha found the back of the net. However, WMU successfully challenged the goal for being offside. The score remained 0-0 as the game moved through the halfway point of the first frame. 

Just under 11 minutes into the opening period, Western Michigan got the first power play of the game. The Mavericks were sent off for tripping. Joona Väisänen and Iiro Hakkarainen had looks on the man advantage, but Omaha would tally a shorthanded goal to take a 1-0 lead. 

Following that, the Broncos went back on the attack. In the back half of the period, Tim Washe nearly tipped home a shot from the point. However, Omaha goaltender Simon Latkoczy was there to make the save. A little bit later, Bump fired a shot off the crossbar. 

Zach Nehring and Hakkarainen had shots saved in the closing minutes of the first period, and Omaha carried a one-goal lead into the second 20 minutes of play. 

SECOND PERIOD
Omaha went on the power play pretty early in the second frame. However, Western Michigan controlled much of the time, despite being down a man. Owen Michaels rang a shot off the crossbar for the lone shot of Omaha's man advantage. 

A few minutes later, Bump used a great pass from Cole Crusberg-Roseen to even the game at 1-1. Bump's goal was his second of the season. Not too long after that goal, WMU went to the power play. 

The Broncos peppered shots at Latkoczy, getting five shots on net. Nothing would come of the man advantage, however. Still, the Brown and Gold kept up the offensive pressure, breaking through late in the middle frame. 

After Bump's shot was initially saved, Lemyre cleaned up the loose puck in front to put the Broncos up 2-1 with under three minutes to play in the period. Western Michigan took that one-goal advantage into the final 20 minutes of play. 

THIRD PERIOD
After a flurry of WMU shots to open the period, the Mavericks went to the power play with a chance to even the game. Not even 10 seconds into that penalty, WMU picked up another penalty. This time for tripping. 

In a great effort by the PK group, WMU allowed just two shots and blocked another to get back to full strength. Following the penalty kill, Bump had a pair of shots saved by Latkoczy while Washe had another one turned away. 

Down the stretch of the final period, Rowe made some key stops to keep the Broncos in the lead. Omaha would pull its goalie with about a minute left in the game. Rowe and the Bronco defense would make enough stops late in the game to clinch a 2-1 victory. 

UP NEXT
Western Michigan and Omaha will finish the series tomorrow night at 8 PM.