GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Eleventh-ranked Nebraska-Omaha skated to a 2-2 tie with No. 2 North Dakota on Friday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Dominic Zombo scored the only goal in a shootout to give the Mavericks an extra standing point.
The tie moves the Mavericks to 7-2-2 overall and 3-1-1-1 in the NCHC, good for fourth place and one point behind North Dakota. UND is now 9-3-2 overall and 4-2-1-0 in the conference, good for third and a one point ahead of UNO.
On the deciding goal in the shootout, Zombo, a left-handed shot, cut across the slot and lifted a backhander over the glove hand of goalie Zane McIntyre. It was UNOâs first shootout of the season and the first for UND as a member of the NCHC.
Ryan Massa stopped all three shootout attempts by UND at the other end and finished the game with 24 saves as the Mavericks outshot North Dakota 30-26.
North Dakota opened the scoring at 7:43 of the second period. Gage Ausmusâ shot from the top of the slot hit the crossbar and then the hand of UNO defenseman Grant Gallo before bouncing in for his second goal of the season.
Just 29 seconds later, the Mavericks tied the game. Jake Randolph worked the puck from behind the net to Tyler Vesel, who fired a shot under the crossbar for his third goal of the year. The goal extended Veselâs team-best point streak to five games.
Late in the period, Justin Parizek, who also assisted on Veselâs goal, picked up his second point when his wrist shot from the right wing boards was deflected past McIntyre. It was his fourth goal in the past five games.
