Jan. 7, 2005
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio - Despite a career-best 26-save performance from freshman Charlie Effinger (Belleville, Ill.), the Miami RedHawks (7-11-3, 3-8-2 CCHA) were unable to capitalize on seven power play chances and fell to Michigan State (11-9-1, 6-7-0 CCHA) by a score of 4-0 on Friday night at Goggin Ice Arena.
The RedHawks appeared to take a 1-0 lead late in the first period as sophomore Marty Guerin (Lansing, Mich.) faked a shot from the point and found classmate Matt Christie (Ajax, Ontario) streaking toward the MSU net. Christie promptly slid a backhander past Dominic Vicari just before time expired. After initially allowing the goal, the officiating crew discussed the circumstances of the goal and determined that the play was started by an illegal faceoff and therefore the goal would be disallowed.
That seemed to shift the momentum into Michigan State's corner as they got on the scoreboard just 2:35 into the second period. With Miami junior Matt Davis (Rocky River, Ohio) in the penalty box for hooking, Colton Fretter's shot from the point found its way through a sea of legs and past freshman Charlie Effinger (Belleville, Ill.) after a face off deep in the RedHawks' zone.
The Spartans doubled their lead midway through the period when Mike Lalonde banged in the rebound of a shot by Tommy Goebel from the right wing boards. With 1:40 remaining in the period, Michigan State made it 3-0 on Jim Slater's ninth goal of the year as he redirected a shot from the point into the back of the Miami net.
Michigan State wasted no time in adding to its lead as Bryan Lerg beat Effinger high to the stick side at the 1:40 mark of the third.
Effinger, making just the second start of his career, stopped 26-of-30 shots to drop his season record to 0-2-0. His counterpart, Dominic Vicari, was rock solid as he turned away all 30 of the shots sent his way.
The Miami power play was rendered ineffective by the Spartan's penalty-killing unit as MSU killed all seven of Miami's opportunities with the man-advantage. Michigan State was 2-for-9 on the power play.
Miami and Michigan State will conclude the series on Saturday night at Goggin Ice Arena with the puck slated to drop at 7:35 p.m.
Game Notes: FR G Charlie Effinger made just the second start of his career ... his first start came on Oct. 21 versus Ohio State ... the RedHawks were shutout for the first time since a 2-0 loss to Air Force (10-18-03) ... Miami is now 0-1-1 this season when having the same number of shots on goal as its opponent and 1-6-2 when the opponent scores first.
