UNO Ends Spartan Win Streak, 3-2

Jan. 22, 2006

OMAHA, Neb. - Tomas Klempa's shorthanded tally in the second period stood as the game-winner as Nebraska Omaha posted a 3-2 victory over Michigan State on Saturday evening at the Qwest Center, ending the Spartans six game winning streak. Bryan Lerg and Jim McKenzie scored for Michigan State, which falls to 14-9-5, 8-6-4 in CCHA play. UNO, which won three of the four meetings of these two teams this season, improves to 13-11-2, 7-9-2 in conference action.

Lerg kicked off the evening's scoring, putting a power play tally on the board at 7:57. The goal was Lerg's team-best tenth of the season, with assists going to David Booth and Tyler Howells. Howells recorded his 50th career point as a Spartan with the helper (9-41-50).

Nebraska-Omaha pulled ahead with a pair of goals 61 seconds apart to take its first lead of the weekend. After Lerg's tally, the Mavericks responded less than two minutes later as Kaleb Betts knocked home a wrist shot between the circles at the 9:45 mark. Bill Thomas then gave the Mavs a 2-1 lead when he converted in front of the net on a pretty pass from linemate Scott Parse just 1:01 after Betts' goal to send the home team into the intermission with a 2-1 advantage.

UNO's lead grew to 3-1 in the second period when Klempa netted a shorthanded goal at 15:23 on another nice feed from Parse as Klempa streaked down the left wing. It was the third shorthanded tally surrendered by the Spartans this season.

MSU fought back to make the score 3-2 after the midpoint of the final period when Jim McKenzie scored with 6:34 remaining. The Spartans had a chance to tie the game with four minutes remaining in the contest but Kaufmann came up with a big save on a David Booth breakaway.

UNO was 0-for-2 on the power play while MSU was 1-for-8. The Spartans outshot Nebraska-Omaha 38-34, with freshman netminder Jeff Lerg making 31 stops, while Kaufmann earned the game's first star with a 36-save performance.

Both teams face CCHA action this week. Michigan State will host Ferris State on Tuesday evening at Munn Ice Arena before preparing for a two-game set against Michigan next weekend. UNO hits the road next weekend to take on Alaska Fairbanks in a CCHA series.