The University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey program played for the first time in 269 days, beating the University of Nebraska Omaha, 5-3, and extending their win streak dating back to last season to six games. The Bulldogs were outshot by the Mavericks, 27-29, but made their shots count.
 
Sophomore goalie Ryan Fanti got the nod in net today and made it count, winning his first outing of his collegiate career with 26 saves.
 
"They were a team that we knew were going to throw a lot of pucks at the net and I thought he was seeing some pucks well" said head coach Scott Sandelin when asked about Fanti. "It was just a good start for him. It's a good confidence builder for him to come in and get a win."
 
Senior forward Koby Bender opened the year with a tip in goal from the bottom of the circles, from a puck that was put towards the net by senior defenseman Matt Cairns from freshman defenseman Darian Gotz. UNO would strike back at 6:38 of the period, after a quick shot from the top of the crease was roofed. The Mavericks would take the lead with 4:57 left in the period on a tip in front of Fanti.
 
The second was quiet, with each team putting up eight shots on net. Heading into the third period, the Bulldogs trailed 2-1.
 
UMD put up four tallies in the final frame, with junior forward Jackson Cates tying things up on the power play just 1:03 into the period, and helpers coming from junior forward Cole Koepke and senior forward Nick Swaney. Senior forward Kobe Roth would give the Bulldogs the lead 11:18 into the period, which the Bulldogs would never give back. Junior forward Noah Cates would net his first of the season on the power play, on a shot from the point coming from Swaney. Freshman defenseman Wyatt Kaiser, who would get his first point in a UMD uniform, passed the puck to Swaney on the play. The Mavericks scored with just 1:08 to go in the period, and would receive a power play following the goal. Junior defenseman Hunter Lellig netted the final goal shorthanded with :56 seconds left.
 
The Bulldogs finished the evening going 2-6 on the power play with seven shots, and held the Mavericks to a 1-6 on their power play with nine shots. Cairns, Kaiser and Gotz all tallied their first career points in a UMD sweater, while Lellig scored the first goal of his colligate career. Bender and Swaney each finished the night with two points. Roth finished with a goal and a team high six shots.
 
"After the first two periods, we knew we had more. Going into the third period, we knew we had to have a good one and play together as a team" said Roth.
 
UMD plays in their second game of the season tomorrow, Dec. 2, against the University of Denver at 7:35pm.