OMAHA, Neb. - Pete Heinonen scored his first career goal but Michigan Tech fell at Nebraska Omaha 5-2 in the first Western Collegiate Hockey Association series between the two schools Thursday (Dec. 9).

"We put ourselves in a bad situation," said head coach Jamie Russell after Tech took a bad penalty which led to a goal by UNO. "You can't make a situation harder with a bad penalty and a bad goal at the end of the game. We need to stick together and find a way through it."

After a scoreless first period, Mike Ambroz capitalized on a turnover by a Tech defenseman in front of his own net. Ambroz netted his team-leading eighth goal of the game with a shot from the slot 65 seconds into the second period.

The Huskies tied the game at 1-1 with a goal of their own at 8:24. Carl Nielsen sent a hard shot on net with Heinonen scoring on the rebound. Mikael Lickteig also assisted on the goal.

UNO recaptured the lead after a goal by Matt White, his seventh of the season, at 11:04.

The Mavericks third goal came after a Tech defensemen suffered an injury on a check and was unable to leave the ice. Jordan Willert scored his first goal of the season at 12:36 on a two-on-one.

Milos Gordic scored in the third period for the Huskies with his team-leading eighth goal of the season on the power play. Steven Seigo and Jacob Johnstone strung passes together to Gordic who sent a low shot past Maverick goalie John Faulkner.

UNO would close out the game with two more goals, including one on the power play.

Faulkner finished with 17 saves and Josh Robinson made 48 saves for the Huskies.

The two teams will close out the season series Friday (Dec. 9).