USHL Omaha Lancers

Rivera Leads Lancers over Fargo 6-2

March 20, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release


FARGO, ND - Nick Rivera scored a hat trick and the Omaha Lancers piled in five goals in the first period on route to a 6-2 victory over the Fargo Force on Friday night in front of 3,296 fans at Scheels Arena.

Omaha struck early into the game to take a 1-0 lead. Steven Spinner moved the puck to the left wing wall inside the offensive zone. Spinner sent to puck to Ryan Donato at the top of the circle. Donato spun around and let a shot go that deflected of a defender and by Fargo goaltender Robbie Beydoun for a 1-0 lead just 21 seconds after the puck dropped to start the game.

Just over two minutes later, Steven Spinner got on the scoring sheet himself to give the Lancers a 2-0 lead. Jimmy Schuldt held the puck at the point and sent a shot on net that got blocked at the top of the crease. Ryan Donato took the loose puck and dished it quickly to the right side of the crease where Spinner let a shot go right away to beat Beydoun at 3:39 of the first period. The goal was Spinner's 19th of the year and eighth point in the last four games.

Nick Rivera scored the next two goals moving the Lancers out to a 4-0 lead. It began at the 8:21 mark of period one when Rivera sent a low shot through traffic that went between the legs of Beydoun and ended his night as the Lancers took a three-goal lead. Rivera's second goal of the night came while short-handed. Newly inserted goaltender Mathias Israelsson went to play the puck behind his own net and made contact with his own defensive teammate. Rivera came by, took the puck, and wrapped it around the right post for at 14:22 of the first frame. It was his second of the night and 12th of the year to give Omaha a 4-0 lead.

As the period was coming to an end Ryan Donato made a move to the net and sent a shot away that Mathias Israelsson blocked. The rebound landed to his right and Nash Worden skated in snapping the puck by Israelsson for a 5-0 lead with only 1:28 remaining in the opening period.

Fargo finally got on the scoreboard just 19 seconds into the second period. Mason Morelli moved immediately into the offensive zone and let a shot go that went high on Omaha netminder Kris Oldham to pull the Force within four goals. Morelli's goal was assisted only by Austin Pooley.

After no scoring throughout the period, while on the power-play Fargo netted another goal decreasing the deficit to three. Alec Marsh skated through the neutral zone and split the Lancers defense with less than ten seconds left in the second period. Marsh sent the puck by Oldham with 6.1 to go on the clock to decrease Omaha's lead to 5-2 after 40 minutes of action. Assists on the power-play tally were given to Justin Baudry and T.J. Roo.

Rivera capped off his hat trick early in the third period to pull the Lancers back out to a four-goal lead. Omaha moved the puck off the faceoff through the neutral zone and Rivera took it down the right side of the ice beating Israelsson for his third goal of the night and 13th overall on the season and Omaha advanced out to a 6-2 lead at 0:45 of the final frame. That score held up as the final.

The Omaha Lancers finish out the weekend series in Fargo tomorrow night at 7:05PM! LIVE coverage of the game begins at 6:50PM CST with the Valpak Pregame Show on The Mighty 1290 KOIL, www.mighty1290koil.com, and www.fasthockey.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2015


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