Union hadn't played Omaha in nearly 10 years. Friday night itself in Nebraska had to feel like a decade for the No. 19-ranked Dutchmen, who lost 5-1 in their first game in 19 days.

Omaha scored the first four goals, forcing a Union goalie change, and the visitors have now lost their third game in the past four outings (10-9-1 overall).

Omaha (8-8-1) had a 28-19 shots advantage, getting out to a 3-0 lead after the first 20 minutes. That continued a tough trend for Rick Bennett's team in which Union fell to 2-7-1 when the opponent has scored first.

Union's score came with 11:40 left in the second period, already trailing 4-0. Cole Maier scored a point in his ninth consecutive game with the goal.

Bennett substituted Jake Kupsky in net for Darion Hanson five minutes into the second period.

Hanson had nine saves, while Kupsky finished with 14 split across the final two periods.

Counterpart Evan Weninger had 18 in the win in the first meeting between the programs since 2008 at the Omaha Stampede Tournament, which Union lost in overtime. Omaha leads the historical series 4-2.

The teams will meet again at 8 p.m. Saturday.

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NEBRASKA-OMAHA 5, UNION 1

Union 0 1 0—1

Neb.-Omaha 3 2 0—5

First period—1, Neb, Buchta 1 (Keck, Jordan), 3:31. 2, Jones 1 (Pope, Randolph), 6:44. 3, Spinner 6 (Sundberg, Pulkkinen), 12:03. Penalties—Sundberg, Neb (slashing), 7:17; Galio, Neb (hooking), 19:11; Alferd, Neb (kneeing), 20:00.

Second period—4, Neb, Messner 3 (Randolph, Pope), 3:29. 5, Maier, Uni, Maier 5 (Campbell), 8:20. 6, Neb, Keck 5 (Jordan), 11:51. Penalties—Burton, Uni (cross-checking), 3:13; Light, Uni (holding), 5:39.

Third period—No scoring. Penalties—Jones, Neb, (interference), 4:16; Estes, Uni, (slashing) 16:27.

Shots on goal—Union 6-6-7—19; Neb.-Omaha 8-13-7—28.

Power-play opportunities—Union 0 of 4; Neb.-Omaha 1 of 2.

Goalies—Union, Hanson 5-4-0 (17 shots-9 saves), Kupsky 0-7-7 (11-11); Neb.-Omaha, Weninger 6-5-7 (19-18).

T—2:20. A—6,067.