OMAHA, Neb. – On Friday night, Omaha took down No. 17 St. Cloud State 6-3. Chase LaPinta and Marcus Broberg watched from the stands. But on Saturday, these freshmen got their chance to shine. They teamed up for Omaha’s second goal, which turned out to be the game-winner in a 3-1 victory over the Huskies.
Head coach Mike Gabinet praised the team for their strong performance. “It’s great to see everyone contributing. That teamwork is essential for success,” he said. Omaha’s winning streak grew to six games. They are now 8-1-0 when leading after two periods this season.
The transfer players also made their mark. Harrison Israels opened the scoring for Omaha, redirecting a shot from Brady Risk. He also assisted on LaPinta’s goal. Sam Stange capped off the night with an empty-netter. Stange ended the weekend with four points (1 goal, 3 assists), while Israels notched three points (1 goal, 2 assists).
During the series, eight different players scored, highlighting the depth of the Mavericks’ roster. Gabinet noted that the competition for playing time keeps everyone on their toes. “When players get their shot, they want to show they belong,” he said.
The first period ended without any goals, even though Omaha out-shot SCSU 11-6. Israels broke the tie just 1:30 into the second period. SCSU’s Jack Reimann equalized later in the period, but LaPinta scored shortly after, with the assist from Broberg. Stange sealed the deal with a shot into the empty net in the final minute.
Simon Latkoczy, Omaha’s goalie, had another impressive night with 38 saves, including several critical stops in the final periods. His performance has been a key factor in Omaha’s recent success, contributing to five straight wins.
The Mavericks played with determination, delivering a well-rounded effort against a tough opponent. A home crowd of 7,411 added to the excitement. Gabinet described the atmosphere as electric, almost playoff-like.
Next, Omaha (14-10-0, 10-4-0) will face Denver and then return home to play Minnesota Duluth. With this weekend’s wins, they sit second in the NCHC standings with 29 points, while SCSU (11-13-0, 4-10-0) struggles at eighth place with only 14 points.
As the season progresses, Omaha looks to keep their momentum and maintain their competitive edge in the conference.
