GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Austin Ortega scored in overtime as No. 9 Omaha knocked off No. 1 North Dakota 4-3 on Friday.
Ortega’s 17th goal of the season, scored 2:29 into the extra session, was his national-best seventh game-winner.
Playing in his first collegiate game, Alex Blankenburg made 26 saves for the Mavericks (15-5-1, 5-5-1 NCHC).
Omaha’s top line produced three goals, with Jake Guentzel and Jake Randolph also scoring.
Randolph scored in the final second of the second period to send the Mavericks into the intermission with a 3-2 lead. But Brock Boeser scored with 6:36 remaining in regulation for the Fighting Hawks (18-3-2, 9-2).
Cam Johnson stopped 19 shots for North Dakota, which allowed more than one goal for the first time in nine games and saw an eight-game winning streak end.