Oct. 4, 2003
Box Score
DAYTON, Ohio - The consolation game of the Lefty McFadden Invitational went to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 5-3, as Dave Steckel's two goals led OSU to victory over host school Miami University. The RedHawks made a late charge at defending their "Lefty" title, but Ohio State's David Caruso made 30 saves to stimy the Miami offense.
The RedHawks netted their second power-play goal of the tournament at 7:59 in the first period to take an early 1-0 lead over their intra-state rivals. Freshman Matt Christie (Ajax, Ontario) slammed home a puck on the doorstep of the crease to become Miami's first freshman to score in the 2003-04 campaign. Assisting on Christie's goal were junior Todd Grant (Indianapolis, Ind.) and freshman Geoff Smith (Toronto, Ontario).
The lead was short lived for the Red and White as Ohio State broke out on a 2-on-1 at 16:32 and Paul Caponigri put a shot topshelf to even the game at 1-1. Caponigri scored his second goal of the tourney after linemate Dan Knapp chipped the puck up to him on the 2-on-1. The assist is Knapp's third of the tournament.
Christie notched his second goal of the game at 2:50 in the second period, again on the power play, to give the RedHawks their second lead of the game, 2-1. Seniors Greg Hogeboom (Etobicoke, Ontario) and Mike Kompon (Thunder Bay, Ontario) worked the puck around the exterior of the OSU penalty kill until Kompon found Christie in front of the net for the easy shot.
OSU's Dave Steckel scored his second goal of the season only 14 seconds after the referees called simultaneous penalties that resulted in 4-on-4 action. After a Miami face-off win, Caponigri gathered in a turnover and found Steckel streaking through the neutral zone with a crisp pass. Steckel finished off the rush with an easy 1-on-1 shot against Miami freshman goalie Steve Hartley (Hawkesbury, Ontario).
The Buckeyes needed only a 1:07 more before gaining their first lead of the game, 3-2, at 5:10 on yet another 4-on-4 tally. This time, senior Scott May wrapped around the front of the crease and backhanded a shot into the upper tier of the net for his first strikeof the season. Assisting on May's goal for the Buckeyes was defenseman Nate Guenin.
Steckel added another goal in the third period, giving him three for the tournament, to give OSU a 4-2 lead at 5:27. Defenseman Tyson Strachan knocked in a goal from the blueline at 9:41 after Daymen Bencharski and Chris Olsgard won the faceoff in the RedHawk zone.
Sophomore Taylor Hustead (Scottsdale, Ariz.) scored a power-play goal at 14:58 to bring the game to its final, 5-3. Assisting on Hustead's goal were freshman Marty Guerin (Lansing, Mich.) and junior Todd Grant (Indianapolis, Ind.).
Miami opens up at home next weekend, Oct. 10-11, as it hosts its first Central Collegiate Hockey Association foe Michigan. The puck drops at 7:35 p.m. both nights, respectively, in Goggin Ice Arena.
