Nebraska-Omaha earns first-ever CCHA win
Special to The Observer
Nebraska-Omaha used a steady offensive onslaught and an effective penalty kill to defeat visiting Notre Dame, 5-3, in the second and final game of their Central Collegiate Hockey Association series Saturday at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
Notre Dame received goals from Andy Jurkowski, defenseman Tyson Fraser and David Inman but the Irish failed to catch the Mavericks, which held early leads of 1-0 and 2-1 before stretching to their final cushion.
Irish Tony Zasowski gave up two goals in each of the first two periods while the hosts racked up a commanding 28-11 edge in shots during the first two periods.
UNOs second-period surge included a pair of goals after scrambles in front of the Irish net. Nick Fohr knocked in his first goal of the season from the top of the crease at the 2 minute, 51 second mark while David Brisson netted his second goal of the season five minutes later, after scooping home a loose puck from the left side of the slot.
Inmans shot from the left circle yielded his team-leading sixth goal of the season and cut UNOs lead to 4-3 with 14 minutes left to play but the Mavericks restored their two-goal cushion with seven minutes to play, after Jeff Edwards took a faceoff from center Jason Cupp and drilled a shot from the right circle inside the far left post.
Notre Dame 2, Nebraska-Omaha 2
Notre Dame center Troy Bagne picked up his fourth career goal in timely fashion and goaltender Tony Zasowski continued his strong play, but Nebraska-Omaha Jeff Hoggan scored with 1:22 left in regulation to forge a 2-2 tie Friday at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
Notre Dame traded power-play goals with UNO early in the second period before Bagne skated for a goal with five minutes left in the period. Zasowski, made 37 saves to stay unbeaten in his Irish career remained winless in its first season of CCHA play despite holding a 39-25 edge in shots on goal. The penalty-kill unit kept UNO in the game by stopping five of six Notre Dame power plays.
Notre Dame center Ben Simon recorded his first point since the season-opening series versus Michigan, after knocking home a rebounded power-play shot from between the circles by Dan Carlson early in the second period.
Zasowski has totaled 110 saves in his last four appearances while allowing just seven goals in those 236 minutes of play.
Hoggan brought the sellout crowd to its feet with a breakaway goal in the third period, after faking Zasowski to the left before flicking a backhanded shot into the right side of the net.
UNO's power-play goal came with Shane Glover skating from his own blue line and curling behind the Irish net before sliding a pass to Billy Pugliese, who was camped at the left side of the crease for the easy tap-in score.
Bagne regained the lead for the Irish with an unassisted goal, after defenseman Nathan Borega had knocked UNO' s Allan Carr off the puck in the Irish zone. With two UNO players still in front of him, Bagne slowed down and split the opposing players, after faking a shot and skating to the left of defenseman Zach Schibner.
Goaltender Kendall Sidoruk had plenty of time to see the play developing in front of him but Bagne sent a shot from the edge of the right circle under Sidoruk' s glove hand.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, November 9, 1999
