Nov. 2, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Miami RedHawks avoided a weekend sweep at Bowling Green, tying the weekend finale, 4-4, thanks to a two-goal performance by senior captain Derek Edwardson.
The high-octane Miami offense re-established itself early in the first period after a tough Friday night, out shooting the Falcons 12-8 and taking a commanding 3-0 lead after one period. Freshman Matt Christie got the RedHawks on the board early with this sixth goal of the year short handed at 7:09. After back-to-back penalties on Miami and Bowling Green at 12:51 and 13:18, respectively, Miami took advantage of the wide open ice and scored twice within a minute, blowing open the game at 3-0. Sophomore defenseman Andy Greene lit the light first with this third tally of the year at 13:46, assisted by Chris Busby and Marty Guerin. Senior Derek Edwardson 43 seconds later extended the lead to 3-0 on score his sixth goal of the year.
The RedHawks looked to end the game early in the second as Edwardson scored his second short-handed goal of the season unassisted just 45 seconds into the third period, but the Falcons wanted nothing to do with it as they took control of the period middle way through. Following a Miami penalty by Matt Davis at 6:54, Bowling Green began to claw back as they scored their third power-play goal of the weekend by Mike Falk goal at 8:41. An energized Falcons squad continued battle and cut the deficit to 4-2 three minutes later on an even strength deflection off the skate of BG's Mark Wires.
Bowling continued to turn up the heat in the third period, taking the game to Miami and eventually cutting the lead to one with their third straight goal at 9:28 by Rich Meloche. The Falcons and RedHawks traded scoring tries back and forth the rest of the period until with just over two minutes Davis took a holding penalty for Miami, giving the Falcons a man advantage. BGSU used the opportunity and climbed all the way back from a 4-0 deficit with Melcoche's second straight goal forcing overtime.
In overtime, the goaltenders took over, making save after save as Miami 'sSteve Hartley made five of his 25 total saves and BGSU's Jordan Sigalet made three of his 29 saves. Hartley moves to 1-3-1 with the save and moved the RedHawks to 3-5-2 overall and 3-2-1 in the CCHA. Miami returns to the Goggin Ice Arena next weekend for a home series versus non-conference foe Alabama-Huntsville at 7:35 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7-8.
