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MARQUETTE, Mich. — Northern Michigan spent the past month butting heads with some of the best college hockey teams in the country, and six weeks into the season, the Wildcats hadn't celebrated a home win.
That proved to be a bad combination for No. 12 UNO.
Northern Michigan erupted for five straight goals Friday night and handed the University of Nebraska at Omaha its most lopsided loss under new coach Dean Blais. Justin Florek scored twice while Greger Hanson had a goal and two assists as the Wildcats rolled to a 5-1 victory.
After opening the year 3-0-1 in nonconference play, UNO dropped to 2-3-2-1 against the CCHA.
The Wildcats, who had gone 3-4-2 while playing nine straight games against 2008-09 NCAA tournament qualifiers, snapped their 0-3-1 drought at home.
UNO jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead when John Kemp, off assists from Rich Purslow and Nick Fanto, netted a power-play goal just three minutes into the game.
But it was all Northern from there as the Mavs suffered their fifth straight defeat at the Berry Events Center.
The Wildcats outshot UNO 19-12 through the first two periods. Former Omaha Lancers standout Mark Olver added a goal and an assist, while goalie Brian Stewart made 23 saves for his second victory of the year.
Redshirt freshman goalie John Faulkner, who hadn't started since UNO's 3-0 loss at Michigan State on Nov. 5, made 25 saves and took the loss.
The teams close the series with another game at 6:35 tonight. The Mavs need a win to avoid a three-game skid.
UNO (5-3-3, 2-3-2-1)...............1 0 0—1
At Northern Michigan (4-5-2, 3-3-1-0)................1 2 2—5
First period: 1, Kemp 2 (Purslow, Fanto), 3:05 (pp). 2, NMU, Florek 2 (Olver, Fox), 11:33.
Second period: 3, NMU, Florek 3 (Hanson, Gustafsson), 0:42 (pp). 4, NMU, Olver 7 (Miller), 17:23.
Third period: 5, NMU, Hanson 2 (Kaunisto), 10:20. 6, NMU, Pietila 1 (Kaunisto, Hanson), 17:27.
Shots on goal:
UNO...........6 6 12—24
At NMU..............9 10 11—30
Power plays: UNO 1 for 4; NMU 1 for 4.
Penalties-minutes: UNO 6-12; NMU 6-12.
Goalies: UNO, Faulkner (30 shots, 25 saves, 59:56). NMU, Stewart (24 shots, 23 saves, 59:58).
1, Florek. 2, Olver. 3, Stweart.
Attendance: 2,471
Contact the writer:
444-1207, chad.purcell@owh.com
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