The University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team won their first National Collegiate Hockey Conference matchup this season over the University of Nebraska Omaha. The 4-2 comeback win was highlighted by goals from three of the group's captains and leading goal-scorer Ben Steeves.

The first half of the game was quiet. Duluth led in shots on goal 10-5 after the first period, but neither team had come up with any significant scoring threats. 

UNO gave UMD plenty of opportunities in the second period, heading to the penalty three times. Despite their time on the penalty kill, the Mavericks were closing in with shots on goal all period. Near the halfway point, UNO converted first. 

They managed to spring two skaters for an odd-man rush and Duluth-born Nolan Krenzen sent the puck into the back of the net off a cross-crease pass. This was the senior's first goal of the season.

The Bulldogs picked up the pace, looking to answer before the intermission. Sophomore Steeves lost the puck when making a move on the Mavericks' netminder earlier in the period, but didn't make the same mistake with two and a half minutes on the clock. He took advantage of a rebound and wide open net, sending home his eighth goal of the season. 

The scoring continued early in the third period. Captain Luke Loheit found the puck on a rush with Connor McMenamin and used his two-player shield to distract the goalie. 

UMD had their first lead but it was short-lived. Just 17 seconds after Loheit's goal, UNO tied it up off a faceoff. 

Unsatisfied, the Bulldogs continued to push. McMenamin caught a rolling puck on his stick while skating in towards the net, caught his own rebound while switching sides, and buried the puck. His efforts secured the lead again for UMD. 

The Mavericks tried for one last push with two minutes left, pulling their goaltender for the extra attacker, but the Bulldogs locked in the win with an empty net goal by Quinn Olson.

After the game, Loheit said there's more work to do, but tonight's win was a positive start.

"It felt great," Loheit said. "It felt great, but I think the biggest thing we said [in the locker room] is that we've got another chance tomorrow to put a cap on the weekend. Obviously you get that confidence back, you get the music playing in the locker room again, and you get that good feeling."

The teams face off again Saturday, December 2 at 5:07 p.m. Another win tomorrow evening would move UMD ahead of UNO in the NCHC standings.