UNO hockey tops Ohio State in weekend series

A better script couldn't have accompanied a record-breaking moment in UNO's hockey history this weekend.A school-record crowd of 13,417 saw the Mavs skate to a 5-5 tie with Ohio State and a 3-2 seven-round shootout win at Qwest Center Omaha Friday night.

Freshman Terry Broadhurst put on a show of his own by scoring UNO's first hat trick in three years to complete a thrilling comeback.

UNO dug from behind both nights as the Buckeyes grabbed two-goal leads five times over the weekend. The Mavs also rallied to win Saturday night's game 4-3.

"We knew the house was going to be packed, and we wanted to put on a good show for the fans," Rich Purslow said. "When the start wasn't so good, we knew we had plenty of time. There was no reason to get down, I thought everybody held it together real well and just battled back the whole game."

Broadhurst's natural hat trick, the first since Brandon Scero's in March 2007, and Matt Ambroz's four-point night sparked the UNO offense Friday night.

With the game knotted at four, Broadhurst's third power play goal gave the Mavs a 5-4 lead five minutes into the third. Broadhurst ignited the crowd when he slid in a centering pass from Brandon Richardson on an odd-man rush.

"It was amazing," Broadhurst said. "I really can't explain it, but it was so loud. It was a great feeling, that's for sure."

The Mavs clung onto their first lead of the game until the final minutes of regulation. With 1:42 remaining, senior captain Mark Bernier was whistled for tripping, setting up a power play goal by Ohio State's C.J. Severyn with just 94 seconds left.

After a scoreless overtime, Purslow buried the deciding goal in the seventh-round of the shootout. UNO goaltender Jeremie Dupont made stops on OSU's final two shooters, setting up Purslow's clincher.

Neither team scored in the first two rounds of the shootout. Ohio State's Zac Dalpe, who had four assists in the game, scored in the third round, but John Kemp responded to keep UNO alive. OSU's Hunter Bishop scored in the fifth round, but Joey Martin answered by beating Heeter to extend it.

"I thought it was just a great game for the fans," head coach Dean Blais said. "You couldn't ask for anything more."

The Mavs found themselves down early, as Ohio State scored just 34 seconds into the game when Bishop tipped in a shot to make it 1-0. Sergio Somma scored again just 1:22 later to put the Buckeyes up 2-0.

"I thought right away, 'Geez, what a game to lay an egg,'" Blais said. "The largest crowd in here ever, and that's not the start we wanted. But I thought on our bench that the guys didn't panic. They still believed in each other and found a way to get a few goals."

Martin got UNO on the board by netting his seventh goal of the year, but the Buckeyes scored just 17 seconds later, to make it 3-1.

The Mavs kept battling as Ambroz slipped home a rebound for his ninth of the season almost five minutes later to bring UNO within one.

In the second period, the Buckeyes converted on the power play to grab another two-goal lead. Kyle Reed sent a rebound past Dupont to make it 4-2.

The Mavs took advantage of another power play against the league's worst penalty killing team when Broadhurst sent his first goal of a the night, a rebound of a shot by Eric Olimb, into the back of the net half way through the second.

Just over five minutes later, Broadhurst scored again by banging in a rebound in front of the net.

Dupont finished with 29 saves to pick up the win.

Saturday night, the Mavs erased two two-goal deficits for a 4-3 win in front of 7,259 at the Qwest Center.

Jeric Agosta netted the game-winning goal midway through the third period, helping the Mavs earn five of six Central Collegiate Hockey Association conference points from the Buckeyes (11-14-3, 9-10-3 CCHA).

Saturday's start mirrored the previous night as UNO once again fell behind 2-0. Severyn scored just 15 seconds into the game and Shane Sims added a power play score at 7:44 to give the Buckeyes the lead.

The Mavs responded with a 5-on-3 power play goal when Eddie DelGrosso took a pass from Alex Hudson and fired a shot from the slot past Carlson to bring UNO within one.

Both teams traded power play goals in the second. Sims scored his second of the night, but Broadhurst answered by snapping in a rebound of Martin's shot which hit the post.

Broadhurst's goal was his ninth of the year and fourth of the weekend.

Trailing 3-2 entering the third, Hudson tied the game just 56 seconds into the period by burying a pass from Richardson. Hudson slid the puck between Carlson's pads to knot the game at 3-all.

Seven minutes later, Agosta scored the game-winner off a 2-on-1 rush. Broadhurst dashed down the left wing and lined a centering pass in front to a surging Agosta who tipped it past Carlson for his team leading 14th goal of the season.

John Faulkner made 22 saves, picking up his 10th win of the season. Carlson stopped 35 shots for the Buckeyes.

UNO improves to 14-12-6 overall and 10-11-3-2 in the CCHA. The Mavs are tied with Alaska for fourth-place in the CCHA with 35 points, while Michigan looms in sixth with 34 points. The Mavs continue their four-game home stand with a pair of games against Michigan Friday and Saturday at Qwest Center Omaha.