And come out flying the Mavericks did, jumping out to a 2-0 lead after a first period in which UNO outshot the Sioux 15-7. But the Fighting Sioux weathered the storm and battled back for a thrilling 6-5 WCHA victory tonight in front of 11,181 raucous fans at the Qwest Center Omaha.

UND improved to 7-2-0 in WCHA play and 8-4-1 overall. The loss was UNO's first in league play, dropping the Mavericks to 5-1-1 in the WCHA and 8-2-1 overall.

Senior forward Matt Frattin (Edmonton, Alberta) ignited the rally with a shorthanded goal just 98 seconds into the second period, snapping a wrist shot past John Faulkner to bring the eighth-ranked Sioux to life. The shorthanded goal touched off a wild period in which the two teams combined for five goals.

"It's always a huge momentum swing to get a shorthanded goal," Frattin said. "At the start of the second period we just got back to playing our game and our leaders stepped forward."

UND senior defenseman Jake Marto (Sr., Grand Forks, N.D.) tied the game just five minutes later, taking a drop pass from Frattin and beating Faulkner from the high slot.

The Mavericks regained the lead on a Brock Montpetit goal midway through the period, but Mike Cichy (So., New Hartford, Conn.) pulled the Sioux even once again with 2:42 remaining in the frame, banging home a Brad Malone (Sr., Miramichi, New Brunswick) rebound at the side of the net on the power-play.

But once again, the tie game was short-lived for the Sioux, as Terry Broadhurst knocked home an Alex Hudson rebound on a 2-on-1, putting the Mavericks up 4-3 heading into the second intermission.

With just over seven minutes elapsed in the third period, Frattin again scored a critical goal. After freshman defenseman Derek Forbort (Duluth, Minn.) held the offensive zone on the side boards, Frattin gobbled up the loose puck inside the UNO blueline, muscled through a Maverick defender and whistled a wrist shot past Faulkner from the top of the circle to draw the Sioux even. It was Frattin's WCHA-leading 12th goal of the season, which also tied him for the NCAA lead.

UND finally grabbed the lead six minutes later on a brilliant individual effort by senior captain Chay Genoway (Morden, Manitoba). After the Sioux won a center ice faceoff, Genoway lugged the puck into the UNO zone, circled behind the net and easily beat Faulkner on a wraparound to the far side.

Just 34 seconds later, sophomore Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn.) scored what proved to be the game-winner, converting a picture-perfect passing play between linemates Malone and Derek Rodwell (Fr., Taber, Alberta). It was the first goal of the season for Kristo, the reigning WCHA Rookie of the Year.

Hudson pulled the Mavs back within a goal with 3:02 remaining, but UND withstood a furious UNO push in the final three minutes to hang for its third straight WCHA victory.

"We chased them for the first 12 to 15 minutes of this game," Hakstol said. "Fortunately we were able to keep the game within reach and built a little bit of composure into our game late in the first and carry it on from there. It was a good hockey game. It was entertaining. It was two teams that played extremely hard. It came right down to the wire and we were lucky enough to come out on the right end of it."

Genoway agreed that escaping UNO's first-period dominance down by only two goals was critical. "They came out strong, which we expected. I think it was big just to get in (to the locker room) and re-group," Genoway said.

With the win, UND moved three points ahead of UNO in second place in the WCHA standings and stayed one point behind first-place Minnesota Duluth, which beat Wisconsin in overtime tonight.

The Mavericks outshot the Sioux 34-33 and chased UND starter Brad Eidsness (Jr., Chestermere, Alberta) to the bench after two periods. Eidsness finished with 20 saves on 24 shots before giving way to sophomore Aaron Dell (Airdrie, Minn.). Dell stopped nine of 10 shots in the third period.

The Sioux went 2-for-7 on the power-play and killed both UNO chances with the man advantage.

The two teams will conclude their series tomorrow night at 7:07 p.m.

Notes: Frattin finished with two goals and an assist. He has 22 goals in his last 25 games dating back to last Feb. 13 at St. Cloud State ... Genoway's assist on Frattin's shorthanded goal was his 100th career point, making him only the ninth defenseman in Sioux history to reach that plateau ... Forbort had a pair of assists ... Senior forward Evan Trupp (Anchorage, Alaska) led all players with a +3 rating ... UND has killed 21 of the last 23 opponent power-plays ... The Sioux won 40 of 63 (63.5 percent) faceoffs. Forwards Corban Knight (So., High River, Alberta) and Mario Lamoureux (Jr., Grand Forks, N.D.) combined to win 25 of 32 (78.1 percent).

- Go Sioux -