LINCOLN, Neb. — The Lincoln Stars (4-7-1-0) were defeated in game one of the I-80 rivalry at the Ice Box on Friday night by the score of 3-2.

The first period began well for the Stars, as Lincoln held the majority of chances in early-goings. But it was the Lancers who drew first blood with a 2-on-1 break and a tally by Jack Stanius. Omaha would strike two more times in the frame, including a power-play goal by Rylan Bydal, and a 5-on-5 tally by Tanner Morgan. The Lancers took the three-goal advantage into the first intermission at the Ice Box.

In the second, both teams would trade chances, with Lincoln making a push early. But Omaha would be given a penalty-shot to have the opportunity to take a four-goal lead. Stars netminder William Prowse (Boston University) would stop the opportunity to keep the deficit at three heading into the final 20 minutes of regulation.

The offense began for the Stars in the third period when Lincoln-native Sam Kline fired home a wrister blocker side and put the Stars on the board. The Stars would add another goal in the frame when Evan Malkhassian (Harvard) picked up the puck in a scramble and fired home  a power-play tally to cut the Omaha lead to one. The Lancers would put together a defensive stand in the final minutes of the period, and take game one of the weekend 3-2.

The Stars return to action on Saturday night in Omaha against the Lancers at 7:30.

About the Stars: The Lincoln Stars are a Tier I junior ice hockey team competing in the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League. Established in 1996, the Stars play their home games at the Ice Box in Lincoln, Nebraska, and have won four Anderson Cups and two Clark Cups in franchise history. The USHL is the top junior hockey league in the United States and a leading development path to NCAA Division I hockey and the NHL.