For a second consecutive night, Maverick fans hit the Baxter Arena exits stunned and disappointed, as Augustana handed No. 12 Omaha another loss, this time by a 4-0 final.
It’s the first time an unranked opponent has swept Omaha at home since Niagara did so to open the 2022-23 season. The last unranked team to sweep Omaha was North Dakota on March 3 and 4, 2023, in Grand Forks.
“Not good enough,” Coach Mike Gabinet said after the game. “Not good enough. At the end of the day, 4-0.”
Gabinet’s club once again generated its share of chances and out-shot the Vikings 33-21, including a 14-7 mark in the second period. But as the eighth-year coach said himself after the game, they’re ‘meaningless stats’ at the end of the day, along with a number of missed opportunities and mental mistakes.
The first of those opportunities came exactly 10 minutes into the contest, as Augustana defenseman Brady Ziemer was whistled for hooking – giving Omaha a chance to grab an early lead.
However, Luke Mobley received a pass at center ice and went in on a breakaway the other way instead — drawing a penalty shot (hooking) just 19 seconds into the man advantage.
Mobley — who also scored a short-handed goal on Friday — skated down the right side and fired a shot under Simon Latkoczy, eventually sending the Vikings into the first intermission up 1-0. His goal stood as the eventual game-winner.
Omaha’s power play went 0-for-5 Saturday and finished the weekend 0-for-7, making the Mavericks 1-for-14 on the young season. Omaha finished last season 26-for-141 (18.4%), which ranked 41st out of 64 NCAA teams.
Omaha was also assessed eight penalties in game two.
“Big-time momentum killers,” Gabinet said. “You need your special teams to generate momentum, not do the opposite. Unfortunately, that was two games in a row where they got momentum off of short-handed goals and obviously they got a power play goal as well.”
Gabinet was later asked what specifically needs to be addressed on the power play and added that he and his staff will look at it this week, but the Mavericks “need to get it going.”
Final.#GoMavs pic.twitter.com/DwDH2q1UHw
— No. 12 Omaha Hockey (@OmahaHKY) October 20, 2024
The Vikings wasted little time extending their lead in the second, as Quinn Rudrud scored 59 seconds into the middle frame, sneaking a shot through Latkoczy from the faceoff dot.
Brett Meerman made it a 3-0 game just 1:40 later, knocking home the rebound from Hayden Hennen’s point shot for a power play tally.
“Just every time we turned around they got a goal,” Gabinet said. “One of those nights where you do some good things and then they put it in the net. Do some good things and they put it in the net, and like I said, not good enough.”
Payton Matsui tacked on an insurance marker with 7:59 left, burying a feed from Will Howard in the slot and sending a number of home fans to the exits.
Matsui’s goal was all she wrote and Augustana goaltender Josh Kotai finished the night a perfect 33-for-33, handing Omaha its first home shutout loss since Oct. 28, 2023 (Ohio State).
“You’ve got to learn and get better,” Gabinet said. “There’s some things that we’re learning about ourselves and getting some real life lessons right now, but nobody’s going to feel sorry for us. We’ve got to look at it and get to work.”
Omaha (2-2-0) will travel to Minnesota State — who earned a 3-0 win over No. 5 North Dakota Saturday night — next weekend before returning to Baxter Arena on Nov. 8 and 9 against Western Michigan.
The Mavericks will open NCHC play with that series against the Broncos, which kicks off a stretch of six-of-11 games at home.
Final line
Omaha 0-0-0 – 0
Augustana 1-2-1 – 4
First Period
Luke Mobley, 10:19, penalty shot
Second Period
Quinn Rudrud (Easton Young), 0:59
Brett Meerman (Hayden Hennen, Owen Bohn), 2:39, PP
Third Period
Payton Matsui (Will Howard, Garett Drotts), 12:01
SOG
Omaha 11-14-8 – 33
Augustana 8-7-6 – 21
Power Play
Omaha – 0/5
Augustana – 1/6
Saves
Simon Latkoczy, Omaha: 7-5-5 – 17
Josh Kotai, Augustana: 11-14-8 – 33
Attendance
6,253
